ECOURI ALE ROLULUI I ACTIVIT !II ASTRA SURPRINSE ÎN CARICATURILE REVISTEI SATIRICE GURA SATULUI

The present paper aims at highlighting the way in which the XIXth century Transylvanian satirical press, through one of its exponents, Gura Satului magazine, approaches the existence and the activity of the Transylvanian Association for Romanian Literature and Romanian People.s Culture (ASTRA). Known by its satirical articles and cartoons on social, political or cultural themes, Gura Satului magazine captures, through three of its satirical illustrations, the positive role of this association in the life of the Transylvanian people during the dualist regime. The article analyses these cartoons in terms of both artistic and technical details but also in terms of the significance of their message which is that of the struggle of the Transylvanian Romanians to preserve their language and national identity at times of bleak domination.