Ontwerp voor een oorkonde ter gelegenheid van twaalf en een half jaar trouwe dienst bij de Lijm- en Gelatinefabriek 1874 - 1945

This is a design for a certificate by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, made around 1899, likely with ink and gouache on paper. Look at the tones here, the way the blacks and grays create such a somber yet striking image. It's like a dark symphony, each shade playing a crucial role. There’s a real sense of care in the layout and embellishments, which is interesting considering it was made for the Laym-en Gelatine Fabrik, or Glue Factory! Notice the deliberate texture of the surface, it invites you to examine the material qualities of the piece. I’m drawn to the section in the middle of the image, where the lettering looks so precise but also handmade. It reminds me that art, even in design, can be both functional and deeply expressive. Cachet’s work often blended craftsmanship with artistic expression and I think of the prints of someone like Emil Nolde, who worked a bit later and brought a similar graphic intensity to his work. Art is always this ongoing conversation, isn't it? A back-and-forth across time, full of echoes and new interpretations.