Fantasieornamenten c. 1925

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sheet of Fantasieornamenten, or Fantasy Ornaments, at an undetermined date with graphite on paper. The lines are super light and fine, as if the artist was feeling his way into the forms. You can tell that he took his time to draw the four ornaments. Look closely, and you’ll see how each box contains a different set of abstract shapes, all connected by a curving, central axis. In the top box, for example, notice how the four triangles jut out from the center, almost like stylized wings. There is a playfulness in the repetition and variation. Each box explores a new possibility, while still remaining grounded in the same overall structure. It’s like a visual game of call and response. Cachet’s ornaments remind me of the work of Hilma af Klint. Both artists were interested in exploring spiritual ideas through abstract forms. Ultimately, this piece is less about what it depicts and more about the open-ended, exploratory process of drawing and design.