Ontwerp voor aankondiging en bestelkaart met pauwen 1878 - 1894

Theo van Hoytema created this announcement design with pen and ink on paper. The diptych presents two distinct yet thematically linked panels, each framed to highlight their contrasting styles. On the left, the peacock is interwoven with foliage, its feathers cascade in dense patterns that fill the lower quadrant. Notice how the artist uses a stark monochromatic palette to emphasize the graphic quality of the design. The right panel presents a stylized interpretation of peacock feathers, forming an ornamental border. The geometric arrangement here, with the iconic ‘eye’ of the feather repeated rhythmically, contrasts the organic sprawl of the left panel. This interplay between naturalistic representation and stylized abstraction destabilizes a fixed interpretation. The artist seems to be exploring the boundaries between natural form and decorative artifice. The design thus becomes a site for investigating the semiotic potential inherent in natural imagery.