Ruhendes Paar unter einem Zelt an einem Eichenbaum, links eine Lautenspielerin mit zwei jungen Frauen (_Der Sommer_) 

Johann Jacob Ebersbach created this pen and black ink drawing of a resting couple under a tent by an oak tree with a lute player and two young women on the left. This work, which the artist subtitled ‘Summer,’ presents an idealized vision of leisure and pleasure. We see this scene through the lens of 18th-century Germany, where the echoes of French Rococo sensibilities mingle with emerging bourgeois values. The lute player and resting couple evoke a sense of refined entertainment, while the natural setting suggests an escape from the constraints of urban life. Consider the social dynamics at play. Is Ebersbach offering a glimpse into the lives of the aristocracy, or is he catering to the aspirations of a rising merchant class eager to emulate aristocratic pastimes? The drawing presents an image of harmony and delight but invites a deep dive into the social and cultural currents of its time. To fully understand its significance, we can turn to historical archives, literature, and studies of patronage. These resources shed light on the values and aspirations that shaped both the artist's vision and the audience's reception of the artwork.