Kalenderblad juni met maki's 1916

Theo van Hoytema created this calendar page for June with lemurs, or maki’s, at the Rijksmuseum. It's all about marks that suggest and define form: wispy, delicate, and kind of haphazard. I like to imagine the artist, possibly in his studio, making marks on the page, trying to capture the essence of these sweet animals. It seems like the kind of calendar you might have hanging on your wall, not for its graphic design, but for the soulful and humorous depictions of these cute lemurs. The sketchy lines create a sense of texture and depth, like a child's drawing, but with sophisticated attention to detail. The lemurs at the top and bottom feel like they are communicating across time and space. The calendar reminds me of other natural history artists like Beatrix Potter who imbue their subjects with an anthropomorphic quality. It's a reminder that artists are always in conversation with each other, inspiring new ways of seeing the world.