Kalenderblad juli met een eekhoorn 1902

Theo van Hoytema made this calendar page for July with lithographic ink on paper, and it feels both precise and playful. Look at the squirrel: the dark brown ink thins and thickens, giving it a furry texture almost like you could reach out and touch it! It’s like Hoytema is thinking out loud with his marks, allowing the medium to show itself without fuss. The ink’s not trying to hide; instead, it’s part of the story. The way he frames the calendar grid with branches is also interesting – it’s both graphic and organic. The stylized squirrels that adorn the top and bottom give the piece a lovely decorative quality. Hoytema’s work reminds me of the Vienna Secession artists, like Gustav Klimt, who combined fine art with decorative arts. Like them, he’s blurring boundaries, inviting us to see how art can be part of everyday life. It's a celebration of seeing and thinking through making.