Kalenderblad voor december 1899 1898

This calendar, designed by Theo Nieuwenhuis for December 1899, is an early example of graphic design, made using traditional printmaking methods. Look closely, and you'll see that it's a lithograph, meaning it was printed from a flat stone surface. Nieuwenhuis has employed just a few colors, emphasizing line and form. Notice the stylized rendering of leaves and branches, a nod to the Art Nouveau style popular at the time. The graphic quality of the piece is striking; it's both functional and decorative. The process of lithography was well-suited to the industrial age, allowing for relatively quick reproduction and dissemination of images. But it still required skilled labor and a deep understanding of materials. This calendar represents a moment when handcraft and industrial production were closely intertwined, influencing the aesthetics of everyday life. It reminds us that even mass-produced objects can carry cultural and artistic significance.