Kinderkopjes 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this piece, Kinderkopjes, using pen and brush in brown ink and graphite. Cachet was a Dutch artist known for his decorative work and printmaking. At first glance, the drawing presents a dense cluster of children's faces. The monochromatic palette and the varying states of completion in the figures evoke a sense of intimacy. However, this cluster can also feel overwhelming, hinting at themes of vulnerability and anonymity. Cachet’s involvement in the Arts and Crafts movement, which emphasized the value of handmade objects and often sought to uplift the working class, might inform the reading of this artwork. The choice to depict children could be interpreted as a statement on innocence and potential, but also perhaps on the precariousness of youth in a rapidly industrializing world. What do you feel when looking at this drawing? Is it a sense of comfort, or something more unsettling?