Kalenderblad augustus met olifant 1905

This calendar page for August, with its stately elephant, was made by Theo van Hoytema. Looking at it, I imagine Hoytema, bent over his work, carefully choosing each colour. The elephant dominates the frame, its grey skin rendered with such detail, while a table of dates sits below, each number neatly placed, little elephants marking some of the days. I wonder if Hoytema was thinking about time, about the slow, steady passage of days and the long lives of elephants. The colours are muted, like an old memory, and the frame, adorned with roses, adds a touch of elegance. It reminds me of the Arts and Crafts movement, where artists celebrated nature and craftsmanship. It’s as if Hoytema is saying that even something as mundane as a calendar can be a work of art, a moment of beauty in the everyday.