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Lot Essay
Weight's works painted during the war fit absolutely into his later work in which nightmarish or fantastical characters engage in unfinished and unexplained narrative in London or the landscapes of Sussex and Dorset.
The combination of warfare and suburbia was a mix that Weight might have dreamt up for himself and the present work, showing fantasy fairground figures against the backdrop of a Hammersmith street is typical of Weight's work as an Official War Artist. The following extract from the minutes of the War Artists' Advisory Committee is characteristic of Weight's individual approach: '30-7-41 - Mr. Carel Weight's picture of a German aeroplane swooping down on a trolley bus was found unacceptable as not fulfilling the conditions of his commission. Agreed that he be asked to try again' (see A. Ross, Colours of War, London, 1983, p. 31).
The combination of warfare and suburbia was a mix that Weight might have dreamt up for himself and the present work, showing fantasy fairground figures against the backdrop of a Hammersmith street is typical of Weight's work as an Official War Artist. The following extract from the minutes of the War Artists' Advisory Committee is characteristic of Weight's individual approach: '30-7-41 - Mr. Carel Weight's picture of a German aeroplane swooping down on a trolley bus was found unacceptable as not fulfilling the conditions of his commission. Agreed that he be asked to try again' (see A. Ross, Colours of War, London, 1983, p. 31).