Kalenderblad augustus 1900 1900

Curator: Ah, "Kalenderblad augustus 1900" by Theo Nieuwenhuis, created in 1900. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Made using drawing and poster methods during the Art Nouveau period, so its historical and cultural weight are immediately present. What is your immediate reaction, looking at this calendar? Editor: Utterly charming, isn’t it? It has a kind of faded elegance, a whiff of a summer garden party held a century ago. All the floral motifs give a lightness. Though at the same time, the linear structure of the grid brings to mind architectural design. Curator: That’s a keen observation. The blending of natural, organic forms, like those daisies, with geometric elements indeed reflects the Art Nouveau aesthetic—a bridge between the old and the new, perhaps. Look at how Nieuwenhuis stylizes the text; each letter contains a new visual flourish. Editor: Absolutely, there is a visual tension happening here. There’s this almost…naive rendering paired with very controlled patterns, like fabric designs, suggesting both artistic freedom and disciplined execution. But, there's more at play with symbolic weight. Do you agree? Curator: I do. Notice the deliberate inclusion of moon phases and sunrise/sunset times, and of course, a pattern around each title for each day of the week. They aren’t just decorative; they serve as a mnemonic, grounding the viewer in the rhythms of nature. Consider this artwork's function, as a calendar meant to give someone a sense of control over a week or month. Perhaps nature's design is trying to nudge someone to go outside? Editor: Or to control one's summer vacation! There's so much design jammed in each tile that it feels bursting with ideas about the future! What the owner of this design, what that owner's summer may hold, perhaps? It's a lot of weight! Curator: Well, I’m seeing cycles of culture intersecting nature. Very thought provoking! Editor: Very! Well, time to plant some daisies, I guess! Thanks for showing this lovely image.