Summer 1906

Charles Courtney Curran made this painting, Summer, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It's awash in dreamy blues and whites, like a memory fading at the edges. It feels like the whole thing was made in one go, alla prima, with those confident brushstrokes. The daisies are the stars here, a sea of them stretching out, each one a daub of thick paint. You can almost smell them. The brushwork is loose and gestural, but still manages to create a sense of depth and texture. Look at the way the light hits the woman's dress, so soft and luminous. It reminds me of John Singer Sargent, with that same ability to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. There's something so evocative about this painting. It's not just a pretty picture, it's a feeling, a moment suspended in time. It’s like Curran is inviting us to step into this world, to breathe in the sweet air and feel the sun on our faces.