Summer 12 - 1794

"Summer" is an anonymous hand-colored mezzotint print from 1794 depicting a romantic scene of a man and woman in a field, likely wheat. Two children play in the foreground. The scene is characteristic of the pastoral ideal of the late 18th century, a time when nature and rural life were romanticized. The print, now part of the Minneapolis Institute of Art collection, uses a combination of fine lines and delicate color to create a realistic and engaging depiction of a summer day.