IMAGE OF GYPSIES AND HORSES IN PAINTING AND GRAPHICS: SYMBOLISM AND MEANING

Abstract

The article is devoted to understanding of the images in the works of art of different eras of the phenomenon of the Roma people, who, not having their own territory and statehood, migrated through many states of almost all continents of the world, but managed to leave their mark in the history, anthropology, ethnography and art of each of the countries in which it was presented. In this connection, the image of Roma and their horses as an integral part of their life and vision, which is described in this article, is widespread in the fine art. The works of such famous artists as Édouard Manet, Marc Chagall, Katarzyna Pollock, Veronika Bogdanova and others were analysed. The theoretical foundations of the research are based on the works of foreign scientists, including R. Buckland, G. Vaidek, G. Duxon, D. Kenrick, A. Frazer, Y. Fikovsky, and others, and on the scientific explorations of domestic researchers of Roma culture – O. Barannikov, O. Dynilikin, N. Zinkevych, H. Latnyk, and others. The research methods were analysis and synthesis, historical and cultural method, art analysis and theoretical generalization. The scientific novelty of the article is related to the fact that today there is no scientific studies which analyse paintings of foreign and domestic artists in terms of presence therein of images of representatives of the Roma people and elements of their culture, where horses play one of the fundamental roles. Conclusions: familiarization with the works of the fine art made it possible to establish that images of Roma as symbols of will, the destruction of stereotypes of any historical period are identified by artists with the images of horses as components of the Gypsy nomadic life and vision embody the mentality and way of life of the Gypsy people, who, having travelled the paths of different countries and continents, have preserved their national identity and culture.