Does a Joke Need a Punchline?

How this portrayal of George Washington proves observation alone can create humor.

A common understanding of humor is that all jokes need a punchline.

The concept that a punchline is necessary for a joke even to exist is so pervasive that it sits at the core of one of the three main theories of humor. That theory is known as the incongruity theory, which began to take shape in the 18th century. This is the idea that something is funny …