Kalenderblad februari met uil 1907

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for February with lithography around the turn of the century. It’s now part of the Rijksmuseum collection. In this period, the Dutch art scene was navigating its identity, torn between tradition and modernity. Calendars like this one offered a new form of communication and artistic expression, but they were also commodities produced by institutions that catered to popular tastes. Hoytema's choice of an owl is interesting. Owls are traditionally symbols of wisdom, but also of darkness and solitude. He repeats the owl motif throughout the page, creating a rhythm that is both decorative and slightly unsettling. Are these owls symbols of hidden knowledge, or are they a commentary on the isolation of modern life? To fully understand Hoytema's work, we can look to the institutional forces that shaped art in the Netherlands at this time. By studying these calendars, we can explore the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society.