Summer 

Joseph Rubens Powell created this delicate watercolor, titled *Summer,* sometime in the 19th century. Watercolors have a wonderful immediacy. Applied in thin washes, they allow the white of the paper to shine through, creating luminous effects. Here, the artist’s light touch is evident in the hazy atmosphere and soft rendering of the figures. You can almost feel the warmth of the sun. But consider also the social context. The two women depicted are likely farm laborers, gathering flowers in a field after the harvest, a task both beautiful and physically demanding. Powell’s choice of watercolor, a medium often associated with leisure and amateur artmaking, subtly elevates this everyday scene. By depicting these women with such care and attention, he asks us to recognize the value and dignity of their work. Ultimately, this watercolor reminds us that art is not just about the subject matter, but also about the way it's made and the stories it tells about the people and places it represents.