Paarden c. 1905

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this drawing, Paarden, with chalk on paper, and now it lives in the Rijksmuseum. It’s all about process; you can practically feel him moving the chalk across the page. Look at the texture, the way the chalk grabs onto the paper, leaving these crumbly, almost broken marks. The lines aren't precious, more like a quick notation, a thought caught in charcoal. He doesn't fuss over details, but seems to get right to the essence of the horse, the animal’s weight and form. There’s this dark, smudged area right in the center, maybe the shadow of the horse's body. That concentrated darkness contrasts with the lightness of the sketch. It reminds me of Käthe Kollwitz, another artist who knew how to make the most of line and tone to convey something deeply felt. It's not about perfect representation but about using the medium to feel and see the world.