Kalenderblad voor oktober tot en met december 1935 1934

Curator: This calendar page, "Kalenderblad voor oktober tot en met december 1935", was created by Jo Bezaan in 1934. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. A woodcut print on paper, can you share your first impressions of it? Editor: Dark, textural...a little foreboding, even? The sun is strangely cold. And I see the image and then BAM a calendar; what do you think about the way that time is presented? Curator: Time seems to hold still. The rhythmic, repeated strokes of the woodcut make me feel like the landscape and time have been etched into something permanent. Editor: Permanence and the ephemerality of the months listed…there's a tension. Also, I can't help but think about the Dutch landscape tradition. Coastal scenes and harbors become very potent during the period of the depression. Curator: Yes, there's definitely a social commentary that is present in this artwork. It’s interesting to think about how this calendar interacts with the larger artistic landscape. Editor: And not just commentary! Who is consuming this image? Does it uplift? Remind? And the stark contrast of black and white only highlights the harsh realities of the time for working-class individuals, those struggling, while possibly being displayed in relatively affluent spaces. It challenges viewers, wouldn't you say? Curator: Definitely! I think that's something powerful this simple print accomplishes. It’s more than just a functional object marking time. I hadn’t expected this humble little calendar page to take us in such fascinating directions!