Kalenderblad augustus met witte pauw 1909

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for August with a white peacock, though I don’t know exactly when or with what materials. The muted palette of creams, greens, and browns gives it such a calm, almost dreamy quality. It's like a gentle invitation into a month of summer. Looking closely, you can see the artist's hand in every little detail. The way he's rendered the peacock's feathers is remarkable. Each stroke feels deliberate, giving texture and depth to the bird's plumage, though the process still remains quite mysterious. It’s so light, as though the bird is barely there. It makes me think of the art nouveau movement, with its emphasis on organic forms and decorative beauty. The peacock motifs bordering the calendar reinforce this connection, each one slightly different from the last. Artmaking as conversation, maybe Aubrey Beardsley had some influence here. I love the way the artist embraced ambiguity and allowed the viewer to bring their own interpretations to the piece.