Leguaan op een steen in water 1898

Theo van Hoytema made this lithograph, "Leguaan op een steen in water" or "Iguana on a stone in water" sometime before his death in 1917. The iguana, rendered in exquisite detail, perches on a rock surrounded by water. Van Hoytema’s choice of subject matter moves away from traditional Dutch landscape painting, reflecting changing attitudes towards the natural world at the turn of the century. During this time, many artists explored themes of natural history. The availability of printed images such as this one influenced popular perceptions of the natural world. Produced in the Netherlands, the image's style reflects the influence of the Art Nouveau movement, known for its intricate designs and natural forms. The lithograph is also relevant to the institutional history of museums, where the intersection of art and science was common. Further research might involve looking at popular science publications of the time or other scientific illustrations, to understand this image within its broader cultural context.