Print Study Picks: Endless Summer Vacation
By Lori Williamson
July 11, 2025—Welcome to Print Study Picks, a series of monthly dispatches from Mia’s Herschel V. Jones Print Study Room. Selections will complement recent exhibition openings, the changing seasons, and events, and may include an occasional random draw.
July is the golden month, filled with sunshine, fun, heat, and time outdoors. Art reflects and refracts these qualities. Here’s a sampling of works permeated by the glorious, languid spirit of summer—capturing repose, verdancy, and vibrancy.
John Sloan, Roofs, Summer Night, 1906, etching. The William Hood Dunwoody Fund, 1915 P.50
John Sloan taught himself to etch from books. One of his first efforts was a series called New York City Life, of which Roofs, Summer Night is part. Sloan was fascinated by the unfolding of people’s lives around him in the city.
“I always liked to watch the people in the summer, especially the way they live on the roofs,” he wrote.
His attempts to record the unvarnished realities of urban life were unfortunately deemed too racy in the early 1900s, and he had barely any takers—even at $2 a print. Still, he broke ground by introducing topical urban imagery into American etching.
Childe Hassam, In the Park, 1910, watercolor on paper. Bequest of Dr. John I. Coe, 2011.80.3
Just a few years after Sloan, Childe Hassam took a different approach to capturing summer in New York. We don’t know for sure that this is Central Park, but we do know that Hassam had a studio in New York and hated how rapid urban development was encroaching on his beloved green spaces. Relatedly, the focus of In the Park is on the verdant trees and the multitude of people; the buildings are relegated to the periphery, barely visible.
Walter J. Phillips, Poplar Bay (Lake of the Woods),1930, color woodcut. Gift of Marla J. Kinney, 2017.68
No contemplation of summer would be complete without a nod to Minnesota’s beloved lakes.
Artist Walter J. Phillips described Lake of the Woods—the enormous expanse of water and islands that Minnesota shares with Canada—as a place where every object could be a “shrine for beauty.” Initially a watercolorist, he transitioned to the Japanese woodblock method when he began creating woodcuts, carving a separate block for each color.
With its striking depiction of light shimmering on the water’s surface, Poplar Bay (Lake of the Woods) captures the halcyon mood of summer days.
Looking for Something to Do This Summer?
Check out the Meet at Mia: Summer Series, featuring live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink. All the events are free—no registration or secret handshake required.
On August 7, celebrate Andy Warhol’s 97th birthday by visiting the Print Study Room and seeing a few of his works up close!
About Lori Williamson, Supervisor of the Herschel V. Jones Print Study Room at Mia
Lori Williamson creates mini-exhibitions and teaches classes and Print Study Room visitors about the museum’s rich collection of works on paper. She’s the primary caretaker for more than 40,000 prints, 6,000 drawings, and 600 artists’ books, collaborating with curators in American, European, and Global Contemporary Art to make these holdings accessible. Williamson supports scholars through research and inquiry, and advocates for the inclusion of works on paper in exhibitions, social media, and outreach, helping to connect diverse audiences with this dynamic collection.
Interested in seeing something in the Print Study Room? All are welcome by appointment. Email Lori Williamson and copy the Print Study Room to make an appointment.
Meet the other curators in the Department of European Art.