A caricature is an image allegedly discussing a single phenomenon; however, it simultaneously reveals the formation of a process or of cultural, social, and historical patterns. “It is a work of art folded in a newspaper,” determined Eitan Machter and Avital Maya Machter, and hence it is able to transcend its time.2 Having said that, translating into English and interpreting an Arabic work of art rooted in the subtleties of the Egyptian dialect a century after it was first published might result in missing some of the diverse layers of meanings.
Throughout this book, I have attempted to translate the captions as literally as possible. However, since the captions for some of the caricatures occasionally use idiomatic expressions, verse, slogans, and slang peculiar to the Egyptian dialect and culture, I have sometimes preferred using nearly equivalent expressions in English in order to transmit the expressionistic nature of the text. When available, I cite published translations of texts. All other translations are my own.