Koppen en snuiten van giraffen c. 1930

Here we see Carel Adolph Lion Cachet’s pen at play in a sketchbook, capturing 'Koppen en snuiten van giraffen,' or heads and snouts of giraffes. Look at the briskness of the ink line, how it zips around, giving us the bare minimum needed to see these creatures. What I find so charming is the way the artist just goes for it, almost as though they're trying to catch a fleeting thought. You can imagine them at the zoo, maybe, quickly trying to capture the essence of these tall, somewhat goofy, creatures. Each line seems so sure, so confident, yet there's this lightness, this airy quality that suggests it's all about the gesture. It’s like he’s thinking through drawing, and it reminds me that drawing is a kind of thinking. These sketches are not just about the giraffes, they’re about how a simple line can bring something to life, connecting the artist’s eye, hand, and imagination. It's a humble, yet profound act.