Mannen- en een vrouwenkop en kledingstukken 1896

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch of figures and garments on paper, but without dating it, leaving a puzzle for the art historian. The ambiguity of the sketch invites us to consider the social context of artistic production, as well as the role of institutions like the Rijksmuseum in shaping our understanding of art. What’s striking here is the seeming lack of finish: the work feels unresolved. It is as if Cachet is using the page to explore shapes, forms and lines without any apparent need to bring things to a neat conclusion. Cachet lived through a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands, including the rise of socialism and the impact of two world wars. Could this sketch reflect a sense of uncertainty or fragmentation in the face of these changes? To understand this work better, we might turn to archival research, looking at Cachet's other drawings, his letters, or perhaps exhibition records. These might offer clues about the meaning of the work, and its place within the wider social and cultural context of its time.