Pronkende pauw en twee kalkoenen 1873 - 1917

Theo van Hoytema rendered "Pronkende pauw en twee kalkoenen" - or "strutting peacock and two turkeys" - with crayon and watercolour. Van Hoytema, born in the Netherlands in 1863, was inspired by Japanese prints and the Arts and Crafts movement, evident here in the flattened perspective and decorative use of line. It’s hard not to read something about class and performance into this image. The peacock, with its fantastically showy plumage, is typically read as a symbol of pride, even vanity. In contrast, the turkeys seem almost dowdy. Perhaps van Hoytema is asking us to reflect on the different ways we perform for an audience? Look at the way van Hoytema captures the light, the almost vibrating energy of the peacock’s display. One wonders, is this a celebration of beauty or a commentary on social hierarchies? This piece invites us to consider the roles we play and the masks we wear.