Kalenderblad december met gier 1914

Editor: This is Theo van Hoytema’s “Kalenderblad december met gier,” a December calendar page featuring vultures, made in 1914 using print, pencil, and paper. I find the choice of the vulture quite striking, almost morbid for a calendar. What do you make of it? Curator: Indeed. The vulture is a powerful symbol. Let’s consider the context: 1914, the start of World War I. The vulture, traditionally associated with death and scavenging, could be interpreted as a commentary on the pervasive presence of mortality, conflict, and the decaying societal structures of the time. What elements of this imagery are particularly evocative for you? Editor: Well, the depiction feels raw and unfiltered, almost like a direct response to the anxiety of that era. The vultures almost become avatars of the widespread loss. Do you think the choice of using a calendar format enhances the work's message? Curator: Absolutely. The calendar is a marker of time, of days passing, futures unfolding. By juxtaposing it with the vulture, Van Hoytema creates a tension between the mundane, everyday experience of time and the looming presence of death and destruction. The placement of vultures against the calendar grid makes you question whether those structures can prevail under immense human cruelty. Editor: So, it's not simply about documenting a specific moment, but it acts as a reminder of vulnerability and inevitable change, especially in the face of war? Curator: Precisely. The image reflects collective anxiety and calls for awareness to prevent and address the devastating aspects of societal unrest. What I think stands out here is the connection between human-made suffering and ecological imbalance. Editor: This has really given me a fresh perspective on the calendar; it is more than just dates, but a meditation on time, mortality, and how that's shaped by global issues. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Examining the layers of meaning can reveal deeper socio-political reflections in an art piece that seemed like a mere calendar initially.