Style Imitating Art…
Welcome back for my interpretation of a beautiful piece of art. Salazar, Shelbee, and I are the curators. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! SIA challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. I selected this gorgeous piece of art for us. I hope you enjoy this post, the information, and my interpretation
How it works…
Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. We then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, we share our outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. I chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why I chose it here. Please send your photo to me by Tuesday, June 30th, 2026 by 10 pm EST. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.
The artist…
Theodorus van Hoytema, known better as Theo, was born on December 18, 1863 in The Hague, Netherlands. His father was Secretary-General of the Department of Finance. As the youngest of eight children, Theo would move to Klein Stadwijk, a village in Voorschoten, when both of his parents died in 1870. His oldest sister, Beb, gave him drawing lessons there. She was also in charge of housekeeping for the family. He attended the Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden for four years. Theo passed his exams and went to work for his two eldest brothers in their banking house in Delft. Theo, recognizing his own dissatisfaction, decided to become an artist. Van Hoytema, recognizing the need for further instruction, took drawing classes at the Royal Academy of Art. He drew and painted the stuffed animals at the Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie in Leiden. Other sources say he was employed as a draughtsman in the Zoological Museum in Leiden. He drew inspiration from the natural forms of animals which leads me to believe these were live animals.
Starting a career…
As a result of this work, his uncle Adriaan van Oordt, Director of Brill Publishers, lined him up for his first commissions doing scientific illustrations. In 1889, van Hoytema became interested in lithography. Lithography involves using an oily medium to paint with and then transferring that image to paper. During this time, he resided in a garden house at Binckhorst Castle located in The Hague. Using lithography, van Hoytema started illustrating books and other publications. His career as an artist was firmly launched by the early 1890s. He became famous for depicting nature, mainly animals, but birds were the central figures for most of his compositions. Van Hoytema became known as a book illustrator, painter, aquarellist (new term for me…similar to a watercolorist…but better materials), and etcher. He was and is renowned for his “incredibly detailed lithographic work.” From 1892-1893, van Hoytema became a member of the Haagsche Kunstkring (“an association in The Hague for artists and art lovers.”) and also joined the Arti et Amicitiae (a Dutch artist’s society founded in 1839). In 1893, he illustrated an edition of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen as well as several more bird-themed picture books.
Marriage…
After the success of his first picture book about birds (Hoe de vogels aan een koning kwamen– How the Birds Got a King), van Hoytema married Tine Hogervorst in 1892. His family and friends were not supportive of the marriage which ended in divorce in 1902. While married, I’m assuming, the couple collaborated artistically. Aegidius Willem Timmerman’s 1911 novel, Leo en Gerda, supposedly uses Theo and Tine as the models.
Illness…
After his divorce, van Hoytema moved continuously to Voorburg and to Hilversum. His health became fragile, and he spent much of 1904 and 1905 in and out of the hospital. For a time, he even stayed with family members in London. He also spent a short period of time in a psychiatric sanatorium. After his release, he lived with his sister in The Hague until the end of his life. Van Hoytema found inspiration in the French Art Nouveau movement as well as Japanese graphic art. These influences led him to create his “innovative floral and animal motives.” He published many picture books for children. During his illness or in spite of it, van Hoytema created the calendars that really put his name out there! His designs also became the basis for pottery and furniture. In 1923, a street, Van Hoytemastraat, was named for him. It’s located in the upscale Benoordenhout neighborhood of The Hague. A monument was raised there in 2009. By 1905, van Hoytema, living in The Hague, continued to produce art. He died on August 28, 1917, probably from syphilis. Today, he is known for those beautiful calendar illustrations using color lithography. “His fine art lithographs are elegant, and his compositions both in black and white, and in color, are strong and balanced as well as book covers, especially the ones with birds!
The artwork…
The artwork is color lithography and on paper. It measures height 9.76 x 7 in (248 x width 178 mm). It is owned by the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. I’m guessing this is on the back: “handwritten: ‘for a German magazine? ThvH’.” I also found this wonderful description of Stork Gather: “Theo van Hoytema created this color lithograph, titled “Five Storks in a Meadow,” in the late 19th or early 20th century. Hoytema, who had a deep connection with nature, uses the image of the stork, a symbol often associated with birth and renewal, setting them in a field of daisies. It’s hard to miss that one of the storks, stands apart, its eyes closed, perhaps lost in its own world. The others are alert, their beaks gently touching the daisies, creating a sense of community and shared experience. Hoytema was deeply involved in the Dutch artistic and social reform movements. He used his art to express his social and political views. His choice of storks and daisies, common yet significant elements of the Dutch landscape, speaks to a longing for simpler, more natural existence. He draws our attention to the beauty and fragility of the natural world, inviting us to reflect on our relationship with it and with each other.” What I couldn’t find was if it was on display. Given that it’s on paper, I would imagine it’s fragile, and if it’s on display, it’s for limited appearances.
Sources…
My interpretation…
Well, I looked and looked, and I do not have anything that remotely resembles a stork or a muster of storks. So, I concentrated on the colors. And, as luck would have it, I happened to have Shortie Spellbound Kimono in colors very similar to those in the artwork. I even think there’s a bit of Art Nouveau in the design. I really like these short kimonos even more than the long ones. But, now, I actually know how to wear them as dresses. The trick is to pin the inner layers to the sides, then wrap the outer layer around and tie in the back! “Et voilà! I have a dress that will stay put rather than chancing the inner layers slipping and sliding down and embarrassing me to no end!
The Lewk!
Well, I’m guessing most of you have already realized I wore an iteration of this for the last Style Imitating Art. As much as I wanted to wear the same sandals, I just couldn’t! So, I went with a different pair of Carlos Santana sandals. I wish I’d bought more of these kinds of sandals when he was making them. Now, it seems like he’s leaning more into men’s footwear. The necklace really gives off Art Nouveau vibes, don’t you think? I got it at the art museum gift shop in Dayton, Ohio. The earrings are from last Christmas and are from J Crew. I didn’t have anything that screamed Art Nouveau when it came to earrings.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
I was rather surprised to find as much as I did on this artist. I really love the Art Nouveau period…all those flowy lines and sinuous figures. I’m still a little fuzzy on what a lithography actually is. I can’t imagine it would be easy to work with let alone create lots of pieces of art. So, can we talk? Have you ever heard of Theo van Hoytema? Would you have bought one of his lithographs (they’re not as expensive as you’d think)? Were you surprised to see yet another Kantha Bae piece? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Don’t forget…
If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send me your photo by 10:00 pm EST, Tuesday, June 30th, 2026. Photos of everyone participating will appear on my blog on Wednesday, July 1st! If you’re interested in joining us, consider all of your options…the colors, the textures, the feelings they evoke! Come on, give it a try! I think you’ll love it!
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World . I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
No stork disguise? 🙁 😉
The colors are really close, good choice!
I hadn’t heard the name before and still don’t know why this lithograph looks so familar to me. Maybe I have seen illustrations of his before without knowing it.
I vaguely remember trying lithography in my printmaking class in college but not enough to remember if I enjoyed the process or not. That is a pretty picture though and I like how you styled your pretty kimono for this challenge.
I think the green you found matches the painting really well.
Color-wise, you nailed it, plus the dramatic sleeves give a bit of bird wing vibes!