Schrijvende Joanna Lion Cachet-Cordes c. 1935 - 1940

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch of Joanna Lion Cachet-Cordes writing, in pen and ink. The energy in this drawing comes from the speed of the lines, like the artist is trying to capture a fleeting moment, a thought in motion. See how the scribbled hatching defines the forms, but also suggests movement, the woman writing. There's a big, bold shape of solid ink that pulls the eye, anchoring the composition. The texture here isn't physical, like paint, but it's all about the rhythm of the marks, a kind of visual vibration. It reminds me a bit of a Cy Twombly sketch, that same sense of urgency and the beauty of a line finding its way. It's less about perfection, and more about the feeling of the thing, isn't it?