Ornament met luipaarden 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this Ornament met luipaarden with a pencil on paper. I love how the artist allows the process to be so visible here. The graph paper peeks through, acting as a subtle grid that anchors the swirling ornament and leopard motifs. The pencil work is really interesting, some lines are assertive and confident, while others are tentative, almost searching. Look at the way the leopards are rendered – they're not quite naturalistic, but more like symbols or stylized representations. They feel primitive but are rendered with a refined sensibility. I’m reminded of Gustav Klimt's ornamental friezes, where the natural world is abstracted into decorative patterns. Just like in Klimt’s work, there’s a push and pull between representation and abstraction here, creating a sense of visual richness and ambiguity. Ultimately, the piece celebrates the way art can embrace multiple meanings and interpretations.