Ontwerp voor vignet in het gedenkboek voor koningin Wilhelmina uit 1923: Natuurwetenschappen 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this vignette design for Queen Wilhelmina's commemorative book in 1923. Its striking monochrome palette and linear composition immediately draw us in. The design divides into distinct yet connected zones. Figures on either side of the central text, “Natuurwetenschappen” – or, "Natural Sciences" – engage in what appears to be a collaborative, industrious effort at an anvil. The use of stark contrasts, bold lines, and simplified forms reflects the influence of early modernism, where artists sought to break from traditional representation. The symmetrical arrangement of the figures and stylized motifs suggests a symbolic representation of balance and order within natural sciences. The forms are simplified into almost abstract shapes, challenging conventional visual language and encouraging a new way of seeing. Cachet's vignette is a potent example of how graphic design can convey complex ideas through simplified forms, engaging both aesthetically and intellectually with broader cultural and philosophical concerns.