Staande man met stijve pet 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this painting, "Standing Man with Stiff Cap", with watercolor and graphite, but when, we don't know. Look at how thinly the washes of paint have been applied to the paper! It gives the image an ethereal, almost ghostly presence. Notice too, the limited color palette: muted browns, grays, and blacks that create a somber mood. It feels like Cachet was interested in the process of painting as much as the final image, maybe even more so! The textures in the building in the background are particularly evocative, like he's scrubbing at the surface. What was he trying to capture, an individual or a mood? There’s a real sense of immediacy, like the image was captured in a fleeting moment. It reminds me of some of Whistler's tonalist works. Both Cachet and Whistler leave space for the viewer's imagination. Ultimately, this artwork celebrates the beauty of imperfection. It's less about a perfect likeness, and more about the experience of seeing and feeling.