Bandontwerp voor: L'art hollandais à l'exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, 1925 1925

This is a design for a banner made in 1925 by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet for the Dutch presentation at an international design fair. The graphic punchiness comes from the stark contrast between black and white, where the birds and vines feel almost stenciled onto the page. I like how the crispness of the black lines make the whole thing pop! Looking closer, you can see the texture of the paper, which gives the image a tactile quality. Each bird has so much detail, those tiny curves and lines suggest feathers and movement. Then the looping vines remind me of the Art Nouveau movement. It's like the whole design is a dance, a kind of visual rhythm. Cachet’s pattern design reminds me of the work of another artist working with pattern, Hilma af Klint, though I wouldn't say that Cachet’s design has the same deep spirituality. Ultimately, Cachet’s design is one of conversation, echoing motifs and styles of his time.