A Summer Afternoon

Art Historical Context

**A Summer Afternoon** by Elis F. Miller captures the languid charm of a warm day in 1882, a time when America was embracing the leisurely pursuits of the Gilded Age This graphic arts print, acquired by the Smithsonian American Art through museum purchase, evokes the simple pleasures of summer through its title and tags, a serene scene bathed in afternoon light. As part of the Smithsonian Collection, it reflects the growing interest in everyday American life during the late 19th century, artists began documenting the nation's evolving landscapes and moods. Printmaking, the medium here, was re...