Kalenderblad augustus met pelikanen 1916

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for August with pelicans with pencil and crayon, probably in 1899. It's so interesting to think about how artists create works for applied purposes, like calendars, thinking about the balance between creative expression and the mundane need to mark the passage of time. I imagine van Hoytema carefully sketching those pelicans, each line a delicate whisper, trying to capture their strange, ungainly beauty. The muted palette of greens and browns adds a serene touch, like a hazy summer day by the water. The pelicans remind me of Audubon's birds, each with its own personality and quirks. You can see the pelican's beak form the outlines for the days of the month, as if he's breathing life into the passing of time. I think about how art is born from such a simple, everyday object, and it reminds me that creativity can be found anywhere.