Summer’s Day 

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom, born in 1899, created this image, Summer's Day, at an unknown date. Sundblom was an American artist best known for his advertising work, and in this piece, we see a woman in a red skirt and white blouse sitting with her dog on a sunny day. The image seems straightforward, but it's an idealized portrayal of femininity, deeply embedded in the cultural norms of the time. The woman is attractive, carefree, and white, which reflects the limited representation in media during the 20th century. She embodies a particular vision of beauty that was celebrated while others were often marginalized. The artwork does not stray far from traditional representations, cementing the gender and racial stereotypes that were prevalent during the period. While seemingly harmless, images like these contributed to a cultural landscape that excluded many. Sundblom's "Summer's Day" is a glimpse into a world of aspirational imagery, and it prompts us to consider the narratives we perpetuate and the realities they obscure.