Kalenderblad mei met merel 1906

This calendar page for May featuring a blackbird, or merel in Dutch, was made by Theo van Hoytema. I’m wondering, was this printed? It has a lithographic feel. I imagine Hoytema hunched over a stone or plate, carefully rendering the delicate blossoms and the bird's poised figure. The limited color palette—mossy greens, pale yellows, and blacks—creates a serene yet graphic quality. I love to think about how the artist carefully chose each hue, building up layers to create a quiet harmony. Look at how the blackbird is positioned against the sky, singing towards us. What a glorious gesture. It’s like Hoytema is trying to capture this transient moment, a bird singing. It reminds me of other artists who've explored the natural world, like Odilon Redon, or even some of the early landscape painters. Artists are constantly in conversation, aren't they? Finding new ways to express the beauty and strangeness of the world around us. What a generous thing to share with others.