Jonge bladeren en knoppen 1878 - 1914

Theo van Hoytema made this drawing, "Jonge bladeren en knoppen," with graphite and crayon on paper. The choice of these commonplace materials speaks to the artist’s interest in the everyday, and the readily available. Here, close observation combines with the light touch of the artist’s hand, most visible in the texture of the leaves, with their carefully hatched surfaces. The work seems to embrace labor as a value in itself. Hoytema was fascinated by natural forms. His careful rendering elevates the inherent beauty of these botanical specimens. By choosing to work with modest materials, and focusing on the intrinsic beauty of the natural world, he blurred the lines between high art and the decorative arts. This work invites us to contemplate the value we place on skilled handwork, and to reconsider the relationship between art and the environment around us.