“Summer Day,” created by Tom Thomson in 1915, is a representative artwork of the Art Nouveau (Modern) movement. This painting belongs to the genre of cloudscapes, showcasing an intricate and expressive depiction of the sky on a summer day.
The artwork captures a vast expanse of sky filled with voluminous, swirling clouds that exhibit a range of colors from whites and creams to subtle shades of pink and violet, set against a rich blue backdrop. The compositional focus on the clouds emphasizes their grandeur and dynamic forms. Below the sky, a narrow strip of land with hints of green foliage and a calm body of water appears, providing a sense of tranquility and grounding the vibrant sky. The brushwork in the artwork is characterized by vigorous, textured strokes, adding a sense of movement and vitality to the clouds and sky. This picturesque portrayal of a summer day exemplifies Thomson’s ability to capture the ephemeral beauty of nature.
