Kalenderblad voor januari 1911 met winterkoning en muizen 1910

Theo van Hoytema created this calendar page for January 1911 using lithography. Van Hoytema, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, often turned to nature for his artistic inspiration, grounding his work in detailed observations of the natural world. Here, the starkness of January is softened by the intimate depiction of a winter wren and two mice huddled against the cold. These animals, often overlooked, take center stage, inviting us to consider the lives that persist, even thrive, in the harshest conditions. Van Hoytema’s choice to depict such humble creatures reflects a broader artistic interest in the dignity and beauty of the everyday. Does this image remind us of our own resilience, our own capacity to endure and find warmth in the face of winter's chill? It makes me reflect on the quiet strength found in the ordinary, and the beauty of simply making it through.