Kalenderblad november met zwemmende pinguïn 1914

Editor: So, here we have Theo van Hoytema's "Kalenderblad november met zwemmende pinguïn," a calendar page for November, dating back to 1914. It’s a print on paper, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. There's something so whimsical yet antique about this piece that really grabs me. I wonder what one should make of the presence of penguins in a Dutch calendar! What’s your interpretation? Curator: Ah, Hoytema! He was such a dreamer, wasn't he? His vision was very unique; it wasn't about accurately depicting the world but expressing a personal, often quirky, connection to it. That Art Nouveau flair pulls us toward beauty, and maybe a little bit of melancholy. Now, penguins in the Netherlands? Ludicrous! Is there any other reason to display penguins? Is that their intrinsic Dutch qualities are often dismissed because of their ties to the Antarctic? What I love is the stylized font, and how it works with the animals on the drawing. Does the antiquated printing style play into the work's emotional feel, do you think? Editor: Definitely. There's a definite warmth to the print’s tonality – it feels like looking at an old storybook. The way the artist has framed the November calendar with images of penguins almost makes you want to know about each day of November! Curator: Exactly! Each little drawing of the Penguin seems to suggest the coming winter; I appreciate the idea that the artwork does not dictate our emotions but that the penguin's pose encourages viewers to make individual reactions. With this work, one can experience the sense that an antiquated calendar will always connect its users with our shared and individual narratives. And it's that quality that is truly rare, even in the 21st century. Editor: That’s given me a new perspective; Thanks for that insight! Curator: My pleasure!