A Caricature of Deaf People Communicating Through Sign Language

This pen-and-ink sketch depicts deaf individuals using sign language in exaggerated postures. Della Gatta's composition arranges figures in gestural exaggeration, following the caricature tradition of Gillray and Rowlandson. The style—gestural exaggeration paired with verbal annotation—directly precedes the comic strip format. This work is part of the genealogy of comic art.