Kalenderblad april met narcissen before 1904

This is Anna Sipkema's "Kalenderblad april met narcissen," a calendar page made with print. The print immediately strikes you with its decorative stylisation, typical of the Art Nouveau movement. Observe how Sipkema uses a limited palette of yellows, greens, and purples to create a harmonious yet visually striking design. The composition is dominated by curvilinear forms that mimic the organic shapes of daffodils, which frame the rigid grid of the calendar itself. Sipkema's work exemplifies how Art Nouveau sought to integrate art into everyday life, blurring the boundaries between fine art and functional design. The daffodils, rendered in a somewhat abstracted manner, serve not merely as decoration but as signs pointing to themes of renewal and the passage of time, connecting the aesthetic experience with the practical function of marking days. Notice how the structure of the calendar is softened by the fluid, asymmetrical arrangement of floral motifs. This interplay between geometric order and organic fluidity challenges the rigid structures of time, inviting us to consider how our experience of time is shaped by both natural rhythms and human constructs.