Summer Evening c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have David Lucas’ “Summer Evening,” a mezzotint from around the 19th century, currently at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The first thing that strikes me is how peaceful it is, almost dreamlike with that sliver of a moon hanging in the sky. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Peaceful is a perfect word! I'm drawn into the contrast Lucas creates. The darkness gathering around the edges pulls my eyes toward the open, almost luminous field. You can almost smell the damp earth and feel the cool air coming. But notice how those tranquil cows are just going about their evening, completely undisturbed. It's the kind of stillness where you can hear the blood rushing in your ears. Does that resonate with you at all? Editor: Definitely. There's something timeless about it too, the way the scene is framed feels very classic. Do you think the mezzotint process adds to that effect? Curator: Absolutely! Mezzotint gives such rich blacks and soft gradations, which creates an ethereal atmosphere. It's a romantic lens on the English countryside. It speaks to a yearning for an idealized rural existence, one untouched by industrialization, which was definitely a prevalent sentiment at the time. It makes me think of poetry by Wordsworth and Coleridge. Does it give you a sense of nostalgia too? Editor: It really does. I feel like I'm looking at a memory, a beautiful memory. It makes you wonder about simpler times. Thanks! This has really broadened my perspective of the image. Curator: Likewise! It is in such conversations that the art piece gains life again. I will look at this scene with more longing now.