Kalender april met kangaroos 1916

This is Theo van Hoytema’s “Kalender april met kangaroos,” or “April Calendar with Kangaroos,” created at an unknown date. Hoytema was a Dutch artist known for his decorative designs, often featuring animals. At first glance, the image appears to be a whimsical calendar page. However, a deeper look reveals the complexities of colonial impact. Kangaroos, native to Australia, are here depicted in a European context, their representation inevitably intertwined with colonial history and its impact on indigenous species. Hoytema’s personal experiences and beliefs are embedded within the piece as it reflects the colonial gaze through which non-European cultures and species were often viewed. The calendars playful composition belies the underlying tensions of cultural appropriation and the disruption of natural habitats. Hoytema, through this seemingly innocent calendar, invites us to contemplate the power dynamics inherent in cultural exchange and representation. The kangaroo, in its new habitat, becomes a symbol of both the beauty and the burdens of a globalized world.