Kalenderblad november met bloemen before 1905

This calendar page for November with flowers was made by Anna Sipkema, sometime around 1926, using lithography. I love how Sipkema plays with repetition here. The flowers create a border framing the calendar, echoing each other in a rhythmic dance of form. Imagine her in the studio, carefully layering each color, each delicate line, building up the image bit by bit. The limited palette – soft grays, greens, and touches of red – gives it a serene, almost melancholic feel, perfect for a November mood. The way the flowers are stylized reminds me of Art Nouveau, and also of botanical illustrations. There’s a sense of order but also a real appreciation for the natural world. It makes me think about how artists are always in dialogue with each other, across time, borrowing and transforming ideas. I'm sure the artists were looking at each other’s work and thinking: What can I take from this? How can I make it my own?