Kalenderblad juni met twee vogels en een kuiken 1904

This calendar page for June with two birds and a chick, was made by Theo van Hoytema, and it's got this gorgeous, subdued palette, like it's been aged in the sun. You can see the hand of the artist throughout; it’s all about the process of making. Look at the way the white feathers of the adult birds are built up with all these soft, hatched lines, so you get the sense of their weight and texture without it feeling too heavy. The ink is neither too thick nor too thin, it almost melts into the paper and creates an intimacy like it was meant to be a personal memento. What is so striking to me is the chick underneath, seemingly protected by these two larger birds, there is so much tenderness and care in this relatively simple composition. You can almost see the artist thinking about themes of family, protection and growth. It reminds me of some of Elizabeth Murray's prints, and how she layers up colors and shapes to build a sense of emotional depth. It's all about embracing the ambiguity and the layers of meaning.