Summer sports 1904

Charles Dana Gibson made this drawing, titled "Summer Sports," sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. It depicts women flying kites. This simple leisure activity and the women's dresses suggest a particular class and social status. Gibson was an illustrator who created the "Gibson Girl," an iconic representation of the idealized American woman at the turn of the century. His images were widely published in magazines, shaping perceptions of beauty, fashion, and social roles. This drawing creates meaning through visual codes related to leisure, femininity, and class. The elegant women, the picturesque landscape, and the act of flying kites all evoke a sense of refinement and privilege. To understand this work better, we might research the history of leisure activities, fashion trends, and gender roles in the United States during the Gilded Age. Social and institutional context can help us to interpret the artwork.