Summer 1893

Thomas Wilmer Dewing made this painting, "Summer," using oil paint on canvas. Dewing was part of the American art scene during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when new technologies and industrialization were transforming society. Rather than focusing on the grit of modern life, artists like Dewing often looked to the past, creating idealized images of beauty and tranquility. Here, you can see his brushstrokes, soft and blended, creating a sense of atmosphere and stillness. The figures are elegant and refined, their dresses flowing around them. But consider the work that went into those dresses. Someone had to spin the yarn, weave the fabric, and then painstakingly sew the garments. While Dewing's painting celebrates leisure and beauty, it also hints at the labor and consumption that made such a scene possible. Paying attention to materials and making allows us to appreciate the full complexity of this work, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.