Kalenderblad oktober met torenvalk 1914

Theo van Hoytema created this calendar page for October using lithography, and its structure immediately suggests a semiotic exploration. A falcon dominates the top register with wings spread in full extension, creating a powerful directional pull. Hoytema juxtaposes the falcon against a grid-like calendar format. Each date is carefully positioned, framed by illustrations of birds and lunar phases. The geometric calendar layout, combined with the naturalistic renderings of the falcons, creates a tension between the man-made constructs of time and organic life cycles. The image can be seen as an exploration of how we impose order on the natural world through systems of measurement. Hoytema is inviting us to question how we categorize and compartmentalize nature, abstracting it into manageable units like days and months, while the majestic falcon remains untamed. This intricate interplay between nature and structure encapsulates art's capacity to challenge our perceptions.