Picnics Illustrated is a chronological history of visual picnics in art and film.
PicnicWit provides a comprehensive but not exhaustive collection of examples from various sources from literature, fine arts, film, music, dance, journalism, and cookbooks. Both real-life and fictional picnics are listed chronologically, each accompanied by a brief explanation.
While there is a wide range of selections, most come from European and American sources. Interestingly, “pique-nique” originated in Paris in 1649 but was primarily associated with indoor gatherings. It wasn’t until 1806 that the English term “pic nic” became associated with outdoor gatherings.
Picnics in real life expect a perfect day with clement weather to escape the humdrum of everyday living. Picnics may be enjoyable family outings or elaborate celebrations. Lovers find the outdoors conducive to courtship, and sightseers stop to enjoy a view. Scenarios of fictive picnics, on the other hand, often deliberately challenge expectations. Made possible by artistic freedom, imagined picnics keep the essence of picnicking, sometimes turning topsy-turvy.
Imagination boundless:
