Sommer c. 1910

Leo Putz captures a woman in repose in this painting titled 'Sommer'. Her posture, slumped against the table, evokes a feeling of languor, a symbol often associated with the heat of summer. The white dress and hat are visual markers of leisure and a life free from labour. Across centuries, the depiction of women in white has appeared and reappeared, from classical sculptures to Renaissance paintings, representing purity, leisure, and a connection to nature. Think, for instance, of Botticelli's Venus, draped in white fabric, embodying similar ideals of beauty. These recurring images tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious desires for peace and tranquility. The emotional power of such representations lies in their ability to evoke these timeless human longings. The cyclical nature of these symbols reminds us that despite the passage of time, our fundamental emotional and psychological needs remain constant.