Kalenderblad voor augustus 1912 met wilde planten 1911

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for August 1912, illustrating wild plants with what looks like lithographic crayon and ink. It's got this amazing balance between precision and looseness; you can see the specificity in each leaf and flower, but also feel the hand of the artist moving across the surface. The colors are muted, almost monochromatic, letting the textures and patterns really sing. Look at the upper section – that dense thicket of flora. It's a celebration of the humble, overlooked beauty of weeds. The marks are so alive, like he’s trying to capture the very essence of growth and decay. And the calendar grid itself is so simple. It’s as if it's just another pattern, another texture, like a subtle background rhythm to the dance of the plants. You know, it reminds me a little of Walter Crane, but with a touch more wildness, more earthiness. It’s this beautiful reminder that art can be found anywhere, even in a calendar page.