Kalenders voor januari, mei en juli 1904 1904

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar design for January, May, and July 1904. The muted greens are really evocative of the period—I can imagine this hanging on the wall, a domestic object, useful but also lovely. I find myself wondering what it was like to produce such work. Van Hoytema was known for his lithographs of birds, and this design seems to pull together a few favorite images into a single sheet. Maybe it was a matter of economy, or maybe he liked the idea of having a kind of seasonal parade of creatures. He must have spent so long thinking about these birds; they seem like familiars or creatures from a dream. It makes you think about the role of the artist as both observer and interpreter, shaping images in a way that reflects how they see the world. Artists are always in conversation, influencing and building upon each other's work, creating a rich tapestry of artistic expression through time.