Caricature is a likeness showing the features of its subject in a simplified or exaggerated way. Drawing caricatures can range from a gentle mockery to scathing hostility. Conversely the art can be employed to make a serious social or political point. This application of the skill enters the realm of satire. Like all art, the impact is at the discretion of the viewer. The success of antique caricatures is at the mercy of the viewer's knowledge of the contemporary reality of its creator. Due to the very nature, such illustrations make fun/are critical of the world they lived in, that curiously, may mirror aspects of our current reality.