Return to Summer is a bold, playful, and layered exploration of freedom, sensuality, and the unspoken desires that accompany summer’s carefree spirit. The figure in the painting, with her hand casually placed in her bikini bottoms — reminiscent of an iconic, unapologetic pose — exudes a sense of ease and confidence. The relaxed gesture invites the viewer to consider the tension between outward freedom and internal complexity.

At her waist, a cigarette package peeks out from her bikini, its presence hinting at hidden vices or temptations. While it may appear as a simple symbol of indulgence, it could equally suggest the presence of drugs, or other items that evoke the idea of secrecy and the complexities that lie beneath the surface of carefree summer moments. This ambiguity invites the viewer to project their own interpretations, questioning the hidden layers of meaning behind seemingly innocent gestures.

Through Return to Summer, Vandamme explores how summer — a time often associated with freedom and indulgence — can also be a moment of quiet rebellion and self-expression. The painting speaks to the contradictions of our desires and actions, challenging the simplicity of a carefree summer by suggesting that, even in our most liberated moments, we often carry hidden intentions or desires.