Ornamenten met vogels en een leeuw c. 1925

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this pencil sketch, Ornamenten met vogels en een leeuw, on graph paper. It's all about the line. Notice how the images almost seem to float on the page due to the simple medium. It reminds us that artmaking can be an intuitive process. The sketch shows studies of birds and a lion. What strikes me about this work is its raw and unfinished quality. The graphite marks are so delicate and transparent that you can still see the grid underneath, giving it a sense of depth and texture. Look at how the individual lines come together to create a sense of form and movement. The sketchy quality is very appealing. This piece has something of the quality of Matisse's line drawings, although Cachet seems more invested in the animal form. Ultimately, art is about an ongoing conversation, and these sketches remind us that the most interesting things are often not set in stone.