Ornamenten c. 1925

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this graphite drawing on paper, titled 'Ornamenten,' now at the Rijksmuseum. Aren’t the lines gorgeous? I love the way the drawings have this kind of tentative, searching quality. You can tell he's feeling his way through the shapes, trying to find the right curve or angle. The grid in the background contrasts the freehand drawing. Look at how the grid contains the forms, adding structure and precision to the organic shapes. It is reminiscent of technical drawing or architectural plans, yet it also has a softer, more human touch. The way the graphite sits on the paper, you can almost feel the texture of the surface. This piece reminds me a little of Eva Hesse’s drawings; that tension between precision and improvisation, the grid and the squiggle. It’s like a visual conversation, always questioning, always searching.