Kalenderblad februari met sneeuwklokjes before 1904

This calendar for February with snowdrops was made by Anna Sipkema; I'm guessing with some kind of print process, given the flat areas of color and clear outlines. It looks like she really embraced the art nouveau style, with those very elegant, flowing lines and simplified shapes. What strikes me is the way the flat colours – a pale sage green and a muted violet – create depth without shading. You can see it clearly in the snowdrops, where the outline does all the work. And notice how the stalks curve and intertwine, almost like the lines in a drawing made without lifting the pen from the page. It's a very deliberate choice that gives the piece this lively, organic feel, like everything is still growing and reaching. Sipkema’s calendar reminds me of Hilma af Klint's botanical studies – though Af Klint’s work is more abstract, both artists share a fascination with the hidden life forces within plants. It’s that idea of art as a way of understanding, not just representing, the world.