A 1902 lithograph by Theo van Hoytema featuring a detailed lapwing illustration integrated into a decorative calendar page for the month of May.

This lithograph by Theo van Hoytema, titled 'Kalenderblad mei met kievit', originates from his celebrated 1902 calendar series. Van Hoytema was a Dutch artist known for his precise observation of nature, particularly birds, which he rendered with a distinct stylistic clarity that aligns with the Art Nouveau movement. The composition features a central, detailed study of a lapwing, or kievit, set against a textured, muted background. The bird is depicted with a characteristic crest and alert posture, demonstrating the artist's ability to capture avian anatomy with both accuracy and decorative grace.

Below the primary illustration, the work integrates a functional calendar grid for the month of May. Van Hoytema incorporates small, repeated silhouettes of lapwings above the days of the week, creating a rhythmic visual pattern that connects the natural subject to the passage of time. The entire design is enclosed within a hand-drawn, ornamental border featuring floral motifs, which frames the page and provides a sense of cohesion to the disparate elements of text, date grid, and illustration. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on soft blues, greens, and ochre tones to maintain a harmonious appearance.

Van Hoytema's work often bridged the gap between fine art and graphic design. His lithographs were produced with a high degree of technical skill, reflecting the period's interest in the synthesis of typography and illustration. This piece demonstrates his mastery of the lithographic process, allowing for subtle gradations of tone and texture that define the bird's plumage. As a representative example of Dutch graphic art from the early twentieth century, this calendar page offers a glimpse into the intersection of natural history and decorative design that defined much of Van Hoytema's career.