The Seasons: Summer

The print depicts Summer as a lady, bare-necked and breast, fanning herself, accompanied by a man in a garden with flora. The scene conveys the warmth and leisure of the season, subtly hinted at through the inscription's suggestive, lighthearted tone.

Hollar employed etching to create the piece, characteristic of his prolific printmaking career. The work showcases his ability to balance detailed, identifiable backgrounds—such as St. James Park, the Banqueting House, and Old St. Paul's Cathedral—with the serene, clothed figures embodying the season.

Designed and etched around 1643-44 during Hollar's time in London, the print was created under the patronage of the Earl of Arundel, though apparently produced independently. It is one of six seasonal series by Hollar.

Reflecting popular 17th-century themes of cyclical time, the series aligns with Hollar's broader European influences, garnered from his work in Germany, Antwerp, and London.

As part of Hollar's extensive oeuvre of over 3,000 prints, The Seasons: Summer contributes to his notable impact on 17th-century printmaking, with the series remaining a characteristic example of his artistic output.