Kalenderblad februari met spreeuw 1901

This calendar page for February with a starling by Theo van Hoytema is at the Rijksmuseum. I love how the starling is belting out its song, throat stretched wide as it sits perched on the tree branch. I can imagine Hoytema deeply absorbed in capturing the intricate details of the starling's feathers, each stroke and line conveying a sense of texture and depth, which is no small feat considering it is a print! Look at the way he frames the image with the stark tree branches–it’s like the bird and the calendar are emerging together from the bare bones of winter. There’s a kind of humble observation here, like he’s sharing a quiet moment with the viewer, inviting us to appreciate the simple beauty of nature amidst the mundane markers of time. It reminds me that all artists, even across generations, are in an ongoing conversation, sparking new ideas and ways of seeing the world. It’s about embracing uncertainty, and allowing for multiple interpretations of meaning.