Kalenderblad mei met irissen before 1904

This is Anna Sipkema’s calendar page for May, made using lithography. Looking at this calendar, you can tell that printmaking is all about process, a careful build-up of layers. The stylized irises and pea pods form a kind of frame. The purple of the flowers really pops against the pale background, it’s so vibrant, and so flat! It's interesting how the artist uses color so sparingly, limiting the palette, which adds to the charm. The yellow border is a beautiful touch. I am especially drawn to the three irises grouped at the bottom, that little cluster. They almost look like they’re huddling together, sharing a secret. They invite you to look closer, to linger on the details, and maybe even to dream a little. Sipkema's work reminds me a bit of the graphic work of Hilma af Klint. Both had this knack for distilling complex ideas into simple, elegant forms.