Kalenderblad voor januari 1910 met pauw en hoenders 1909

This calendar page for January 1910, by Theo van Hoytema, is made with lithographic ink on paper. The marks look like they were made with crayons or lithographic pencils. You know, that kind of waxy, crumbly texture. I love the way the peacock's plumage kind of explodes across the page. It's not just decorative; it feels like a force, like nature taking over. I think of Art Nouveau as a sort of dance between organic and geometric shapes. It's like the artist is trying to find a balance between control and letting go, and I think that’s what art is really about. There's this little chicken on the right, almost hidden in the shadow of the peacock. It's a tiny detail, but it adds so much depth to the piece. You can see echoes of Japanese prints in the composition. Maybe think of Hokusai, but with feathers!