Kalenderblad oktober met eenden 1915

This calendar page for October was created by Theo van Hoytema, and reproduced as a lithograph. Lithography is a printmaking process, where an image is drawn on a flat stone or metal plate, using a greasy substance. The stone is then treated so that the ink adheres only to the drawn areas, allowing multiple impressions to be made. Here, the technique yields delicate lines and tonal variations, evoking the serene scene of ducks in their natural habitat. The softness of the lithographic crayon lends itself well to the play of light on water, the texture of feathers, and the graphic depiction of each day of the month. The artist also uses the calendar as a canvas for a study of nature, depicting the ducks in the top and bottom panels. Van Hoytema's choice of lithography, a relatively accessible medium, suggests a desire to connect art with everyday life, and to give beauty to a functional object. It elevates what might have been a purely utilitarian object into a work of art.