A 1889 lithographic menu by Theo van Hoytema, featuring a detailed illustration of the Leiden Savings Bank alongside a formal dinner course list.

This lithographic menu, created by the Dutch artist Theo van Hoytema in 1889, offers a glimpse into the social and commercial life of late nineteenth-century Leiden. Van Hoytema, who later became widely recognised for his lithographic work and animal studies, demonstrates a light, observational touch in this piece. The composition is divided into two distinct sections: a detailed interior scene of the Leidsche spaarbank (Leiden Savings Bank) and a formal list of courses for a celebratory meal.

The upper portion of the print depicts the bank interior, where customers in period attire gather at the counter. The artist captures the atmosphere of the institution with economical pencil-like strokes, suggesting the architecture and the bustle of the patrons. Below this, a cornucopia spills out, bridging the gap between the financial setting and the culinary offerings. The menu itself is printed in a clear, elegant typeface, listing a multi-course French-style dinner, including dishes such as Potage Londonderry, Croquettes de foie gras, and Homards frais.

Van Hoytema includes humorous or cryptic text at the bottom, reading 'Dat is geschied' (That is done) and 'Niet te openen vóórdat dat geschied is' (Do not open before that is done), adding a layer of narrative playfulness to the functional document. The work reflects the artist's early career, showing his ability to combine graphic design with social observation. The print serves as a record of both the aesthetic sensibilities of the period and the specific social rituals associated with the Leiden banking community at the end of the century. The muted tones and delicate line work are characteristic of the lithographic techniques van Hoytema refined throughout his career, often seen in his later, more famous decorative works.