Kalenderblad september met scholekster 1905

Editor: This is Theo van Hoytema's "Kalenderblad september met scholekster," a woodcut from 1905 at the Rijksmuseum. The colour palette feels very natural, muted greens and browns. It's quite charming! What do you notice about its composition? Curator: The structure here is intriguing. Hoytema masterfully juxtaposes the naturalism of the bird against the highly stylized Art Nouveau border. Note how the bird, though representational, is also flattened, echoing the print's two-dimensionality. It becomes a study of line and form as much as it is an ornithological depiction. Editor: So it’s almost like the bird and the border are competing for our attention? Is the inclusion of the calendar relevant? Curator: Indeed, the integration of the calendar is key. Hoytema presents us with a functional object elevated to the level of art. Semiotically, the calendar grid provides a rigid framework that contrasts beautifully with the organic shapes of the leaves and the bird’s plumage. Observe also how the font style further contributes to the overall aesthetic. Editor: It’s funny to think of a calendar being a statement about art for art's sake. Curator: Precisely! And that's the genius of it. Hoytema forces us to consider the aesthetic potential within everyday objects. It pushes the boundaries of where art can be found and how it can be appreciated through pure visual consideration, divorced from immediate utility. Editor: I hadn't thought of it that way at all. Now I see the beauty in its simplicity and the thought that has gone into making something so useful so pleasing to the eye.