Kalenderblad februari met staande en zwemmende eend 1908

This is Theo van Hoytema's "Kalenderblad februari met staande en zwemmende eend", and I think it was made with lithographic ink and crayon. I love the textural qualities he gets from this medium! The color palette is muted, almost monochromatic. Look at the way the standing duck is a dark blob against the lighter, hazy background, and then below, the swimming duck is more defined, with a bright yellow head. These ducks, they are more than just birds; they’re about shape and tone, and the surface. Van Hoytema makes the most of the crayon's ability to create soft lines and blurry textures. I find myself thinking of artists like Odilon Redon, who was also using lithography to make similarly weird and beautiful images. Both encourage us to embrace ambiguity and multiple interpretations.