Drie schetsen voor illustraties in Hoe de vogels aan een koning kwamen 1873 - 1917

These three sketches for illustrations in ‘Hoe de vogels aan een koning kwamen,’ were made by Theo van Hoytema, who died in 1917. Hoytema, who was openly gay, had a deep connection with nature, he lived a solitary life and carefully observed birds. These pencil sketches show various birds in different scenes with hand written dutch underneath. The writing suggests the illustrations are directly related to the story. The top sketch depicts chickens or ducks and the bottom one depicts a bird on a post. Hoytema rendered these studies with an understanding of birds' behaviors and movements. The direct observation of nature allowed Hoytema to develop alternative narratives, focusing on the beauty and complexity of the natural world. These sketches offer us an intimate glimpse into the artist's world. They reflect his love for the natural world. They also invite us to consider our own relationship with nature and the stories it tells.