Gewelf en bloemenmotieven c. 1905

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch of vaults and floral motifs in pencil on paper at an unknown date. The beauty of this sketch lies in its simplicity; it's just lines on paper, but those lines, they suggest so much. There's a very provisional feel, like the artist is working through the problem of how to represent something. Look at the way the lines of the flower motif overlap, they're not trying to trick you into thinking these are real flowers, it's more about the *idea* of a flower. And the vaulting, that's a really interesting contrast with the organic shapes. You can almost feel the artist figuring it out as he goes along. The lack of shading or detail makes it feel open-ended, like a starting point rather than a finished statement. In a way, this piece reminds me of Cy Twombly’s drawings. Both artists share a similar casualness and a willingness to embrace the unfinished quality of the line. It's this quality that gives the piece so much personality.