Gypsy Vans, Petersfield Fair, Hampshire 1914

Muirhead Bone scratched this etching of the Gypsy Vans at Petersfield Fair in Hampshire at an unknown date. I can imagine Bone standing there, squinting in the fairground light, his eyes carefully registering the scene before him. Look at the scratchy marks, the light and shade, the attention to detail on the vans themselves, the faint smoke rising. It feels like he’s captured the essence of a moment, a snapshot of a community on the move. I’m drawn to the material quality of the work. The way the lines are so fine and delicate, yet they create such a strong sense of place. The composition is fascinating, with the dark shadow in the foreground and the fair receding into the distance. It’s all so well-observed and carefully composed. Bone understood that artmaking is a process of looking, feeling, and thinking, but also a dance between intention and chance. It’s a beautiful piece that speaks to Bone’s skill as an etcher, and to the rich tradition of printmaking and image-making.