Summer (Color Version) 1890 - 1900

Editor: So, this is Theodore Roussel’s "Summer (Color Version)," made sometime between 1890 and 1900. It's an etching and drawing printed on paper, and it's got this very dreamy, almost melancholic feel. A seated nude holds a fan, set against this really dark background. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a fascinating interplay of tradition and modernity. The figure is reminiscent of classical nudes, yet the impressionistic technique, that almost dreamlike atmosphere, imbues it with a very modern sensibility. The fan is interesting, don’t you think? It’s not merely an accessory. Editor: Absolutely! I thought the fan, especially the way it's rendered with those bright red markings against the dark background, was striking. It looks almost like the marks could be flames. Is it supposed to be suggestive of something? Curator: Perhaps, or maybe something else. A fan, particularly in that era, carried a whole language of courtship, of coded messages. The depicted fan adds another layer: does it represent attempts at disguise, secrets and the unsaid during the transition of eras? Do you think this may add another layer of intrigue? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered, so interesting! Now I feel I should study more about symbolism. It definitely encourages further reflection on societal expectations and personal expression at that time. Curator: Precisely! And the artist’s exploration of both intimacy and the gaze is equally intriguing, and, with these added perspectives in mind, will give you so much to think about! Editor: This was insightful; thanks so much!