Ontwerp voor een oorkonde voor Pieter Julius van Wijngaarden, 1922 1922

This sketch for a charter was made in 1922 by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, probably with graphite on paper. It's a preliminary drawing for a formal document, maybe a certificate or an award. I wonder what Cachet was thinking when he made it? I imagine him carefully planning the layout, making sure everything fits perfectly within the grid. There are these elegant, swirling lines of the border design, which contrast with the rigid grid. The design feels balanced and harmonious. He’s having a conversation with calligraphers and letterers of the past. There’s a little bit of art nouveau, but also something really personal and quirky. Painters, designers, and all sorts of artists, look to each other for ideas, remixing and sampling across time. This piece reminds me that every artwork is a conversation, a response to what came before, and a prompt for what comes next.