These images might whet the appetite for summer days, picnics, an caravanning off into the great unknown; or it might just be a bunch of pretty pictures if the former isn’t your cup of tea. Anyway, these are generally labelled and classed as Gypsy images although we know that this is often seen as an offensive word to many Romani (Roma, Romany, etc.), I don’t think it was intended this way in many cases. For that matter, when not applied to an actual people, the word gets thrown around in art, aesthetic style, dance, music, and many other ways. I have only known a few “Gypsies” in my lifetime and that was the term used; maybe out of simplicity, maybe just as resignation to the common language. But enough of this digression, enjoy the paintings. There will be more to come.
“Knight … bucked trends through depicting liminal sites, such as circuses and gypsy settlements, from the very beginning of her career. An example of this is her delightful work Gypsy Caravans (1935).”
The caravans depicted above are the Rolls-Royce’s of their day; highly ornamented Reading Wagons with mollycrofts, awnings, windows, and fine paint work. They would catch they eye of any artist. I am particularly fond of the domestic scene around the hearth; laundry being done and hung out to dry in the background.
The paintings below are by Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959), a British artist who made many beautiful watercolor paintings of horses, encampments, and caravans. What better, more colorful, and dynamic subject matter? “Alfred Munnings’s biography states that he clearly considered himself accepted among the gypsies when he was able to persuade several of the older women to bring out the brilliant shawls, boldly coloured aprons, and flamboyant ostrich feathered hats that were special occasion wear for the women.”
The ubiquitous fire hook and kettle rest as the true center of this scene. Everyone is done up in the Sunday best at Epsom Downs. We see all kinds of accommodations from a bender tent to various quality of living wagon. And no camp is complete without a lurcher (dog) and the milk goat.
Munnings became president of the Royal Academy and was made a Knight of the Victorian Orderwhile Dame Laura Knight (1877-1970) served on a panel of European judges for an international exhibition at the Carnegie Institute and was appointed as an official artist for the Nuremberg War trials for her technical abilities. In other words, good documentary artists.
Travellers and their goat gather ’round the morning tea. I envision Mick’s garden will look like this once Jim and I get our ‘vans parked for the summer.
More images added HERE.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 
These are great George, one could also be an Irish Travelers scene . Thanks for sharing. Jake
Sure could be. Note: I fixed the images so they can be expanded. Damned WordPress making changes to settings?
Nice find. I am so intrigued by the Romani people. I came to that through my love of jazz.
When we lived in Mexico, on the Pacific Coast, there were two groups of Gitanos that stayed
in the town we lived in. The rumors told by the locals were so unbelievable. And only half true.
Nomads are all intriguing.