Kalenderbladen van april, mei en juni, met hagedis en vogels 1901

Theo van Hoytema created these calendar pages for April, May, and June with lithography. The colors are muted, like a memory, mostly sage green and cream. The eye dances across the surface looking at lizards, birds, flora and fauna. The composition is divided into three vertical sections, each representing a month. I imagine Hoytema working meticulously, transferring delicate drawings onto the lithographic stone, perhaps using a magnifying glass to capture the minute details of the natural world. There are ghosted images of soap advertisements behind the calendar months. Was he being ironic? Or was he saying that art, nature, and commerce can coexist? Hoytema's choice of the lizard is interesting. Lizards often symbolize transformation and adaptability. Perhaps he was subtly encouraging viewers to embrace change and growth, aligning themselves with the rhythms of nature. This reminds me of the work of Hilma af Klint, another artist who found inspiration in nature. We, as artists, are all in an ongoing conversation, riffing off of each other, and finding new ways to see and experience the world.