Kalenderblad april met zilverreigers 1904

This calendar page for April, featuring silver herons, was created by Theo van Hoytema. The print on paper likely involved lithography or a similar technique, allowing for the mass production of images. Notice how the artist has used subtle color gradations to render the plumage of the birds, giving them a soft, almost ethereal quality. The black background and the stylized floral border add to the overall sense of refinement. In the late 19th century, the rise of commercial printing made art accessible to a broader audience. Artists like van Hoytema skillfully blended aesthetics with functionality. The calendar format itself speaks to the growing importance of standardized time in an industrializing society. Mass production techniques allowed artists to reach a wider audience and integrate art into everyday life, blurring the lines between art and design, challenging the traditional hierarchy that separated them.