Decoratief ontwerp 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this decorative design on graph paper, and that grid is just so integral to the work. The graphite lines are tentative, searching. You can almost feel him working things out. There’s something so open about seeing the artist's process laid bare like this. It’s like he's thinking out loud, using the grid as a structure to build from. Check out the top left corner, and how the lines sort of squiggle and loop, but then straighten out as they move down the page. It's as if the design is solidifying as he goes along. I love seeing the ghost of the artist's hand in the finished piece, even if it’s just a sketch. For me, the work of Sol Lewitt comes to mind. Both artists use a simple, almost mathematical approach to create something complex and beautiful. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about grand gestures, it can also be about careful consideration, and working through an idea, bit by bit.