Kalenderblad juni met zwarte eend 1903

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for June with a black duck using lithography. It presents an image of nature, but it’s very much a product of the late 19th-century Dutch art world. Hoytema was deeply involved in the revival of printmaking as an art form. He moved in circles of artists committed to making art accessible and relevant to everyday life. He designed posters, bookplates, and calendars. The Rijksmuseum, like many institutions, has played a crucial role in preserving and exhibiting these works, shaping our understanding of this period. The image itself uses simplified forms and flat planes of colour. It reflects the influence of Japanese prints, which were widely admired by artists seeking to break away from academic conventions. The choice of a calendar format speaks to a desire to integrate art into the domestic sphere. To fully appreciate this print, we need to understand the social and artistic networks that sustained it. Exhibition catalogues, artist biographies, and studies of the print market are indispensable resources for the art historian.