Kalenderblad juli met kalkoen 1904

Editor: Here we have Theo van Hoytema's "Kalenderblad juli met kalkoen," a print from 1904, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes me is the imposing presence of the turkey – its feathers are so detailed and it feels almost confrontational, filling up the whole upper frame of the calendar. What do you make of it? Curator: Formally, the composition relies on a stark dichotomy between representational exactitude and abstract ornamentation. Observe the way the artist frames the central image, an almost clinical depiction of a turkey’s head and neck, with stylized borders featuring repetitive, geometric patterns, setting up a visual tension. Editor: So the contrast creates a focal point? Is there more to the placement of the turkey? Curator: Consider the materiality. It is a poster designed for mass consumption. Yet, the texture and the line work evident in the turkey's plumage seem almost artisanal. The stark black background also does very important work, causing our subject to be so bold. Editor: I hadn’t considered the technical skill in something designed for mass consumption. What purpose does the tension between art styles serve, if any? Curator: Ask yourself, how do these visual choices influence the reception of the piece? Is Hoytema suggesting a relationship between the natural and the artificial, or the functional and the decorative? Note the use of line and shape. Editor: I guess, on a surface level, it makes me appreciate that there's more to something than just its basic functionality. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining the relationships between the constituent elements reveals much about the work's underlying structure and its potential meaning.