The Summer 1938

Paul Delvaux painted ‘The Summer’ with oil on canvas. Here, a classical female figure stands draped in white, her hand raised to her head in a gesture of introspection, set against a surreal, dreamlike landscape populated with other enigmatic figures. This gesture, reminiscent of classical poses of contemplation or grief, is echoed through art history. Consider the Nymphs, often depicted in similar reflective poses near water. These gestures tap into a well of collective memory, evoking themes of melancholy, beauty, and the passage of time. This harks back to ancient representations of Venus, capturing a sense of modesty. These echoes resonate across centuries, taking on new forms but retaining an emotional power that speaks to our shared subconscious, a reminder of the cyclical nature of human emotion and artistic expression.