Notities c. 1905

Curator: Welcome. We’re looking at Carel Adolph Lion Cachet's mixed-media drawing, titled "Notities," from around 1905, now held at the Rijksmuseum. What's your immediate reaction? Editor: It feels incredibly intimate, almost like we're intruding on the artist's private thoughts. There's a sense of urgency and a lack of pretense in these marks and notations. Curator: Precisely. The interplay of the text, which seems to be in Dutch, and the abstract lines offers a fascinating glimpse into Cachet's creative process. Look closely at the composition: the text is carefully placed on the left side of the drawing with swirling marks across. Editor: Absolutely, but I'm also drawn to the aged paper itself, the subtle tonal shifts, and what looks like light pencil work, and an attempt to bring color using ink. It’s like a visual echo of Cachet's time; it almost carries its history of marks, alterations, and smudges, perhaps demonstrating its value. Curator: And think of this during the Art Nouveau and early Modernist movements. Cachet isn't simply rendering observed reality. This "sketchbook art" blends observed forms with his internal experience. We’re not just seeing a study, but the foundations of what would become an abstraction. Editor: I agree, and this intimate view offers a space of free expression during social transformations, challenging academic and institutional boundaries. Curator: Considering this piece as part of his larger body of work is crucial. The abstraction becomes a political statement. It is challenging how identity is represented. Editor: Seeing this deeply personal work situated in its historical moment and through the lens of social movements really helps to shed new light and perspective into Cachet’s "Notities." Curator: Exactly. And now, considering his engagement with Modernism and these jotted abstract pieces as a glimpse into the foundation for Cachet's work makes a richer artistic encounter.