The phœnix-like ‘summer girl’ (1895)

Samuel Ehrhart's vibrant painting, "The Phoenix-like ‘Summer Girl'" captures the essence of the late 19th-century American leisure culture with a whimsical, satirical twist. Rendered in bright, lively colors, this 1895 illustration features a central female figure, depicted with spectacular wings, rising majestically above a crowd of admiring, astonished onlookers, each representing a variety of leisure pursuits of the time.The woman, dressed in a fashionably voluminous pink-striped blouse and contrasting dark skirt, symbolically emerges from flames, akin to a phoenix reborn. Her pose, with arms stretched wide and a serene expression, suggests a celebration of freedom and the liberating spirit of summer. Surrounding her, the array of characters includes men outfitted for cycling, tennis, and sailing, reacting with excitement and awe. Their dynamic poses and scattered sports equipment underscore the disruption caused by the sudden appearance of this legendary ‘summer girl’.The background setting further enriches the narrative, depicting a tranquil resort-like environment suggestive of popular retreats of the era, complete with grand buildings and distant sailing ships, evoking an idyllic summer getaway.Samuel Ehrhart, known for his editorial cartoons, infuses this work with a playful critique possibly aimed at the burgeoning consumer culture surrounding summer holidays and the idolization of seasonal trends and fashions.