Summer Night Possibly 1906

Augustus John created this etching, called ‘Summer Night,’ sometime in the early twentieth century. It depicts two women reclining in a landscape, seemingly lost in thought or reverie. John was a key figure in the British bohemian art scene. His work often challenged the conservative social norms of his time through its celebration of unconventional lifestyles and sensuality. Summer Night speaks to the artist’s wider interest in the lives of marginalized communities, such as the Romani people, in its depiction of women who look free from societal expectations. The setting, rendered with loose and gestural lines, hints at a world removed from urban life. The image can be read as an escape from the strictures of Edwardian society, which repressed female sexuality. To delve deeper into John’s world, one could explore his personal letters, the biographies of his contemporaries, and the exhibition reviews that document the reception of his work in its own time. Doing so would further illuminate the complex interplay between art, artist, and society.