Ornamenten c. 1925

Curator: We are looking at "Ornamenten," a drawing by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet from around 1925. It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum's collection. Editor: It's like a peek into the artist's mind – a visual notebook. The grid reminds me of architectural blueprints or the back of a math textbook, with this jumble of shapes and numbers and faded script, I wonder what he was working on? Curator: Cachet was a major figure in the Dutch Arts and Crafts movement, particularly known for his textile designs and graphic work. This drawing offers a glimpse into his design process, displaying studies for decorative elements, geometric motifs, measurements, possibly destined for some larger project. Editor: So, these weren't just doodles. They have purpose and structure, right down to the precise little calculations jotted around. The lettering, even scribbled, possesses a graceful flourish. It's intriguing how he integrates the functional with the aesthetically pleasing. Almost blurring the lines between art and craft. Curator: Exactly. That was a central tenet of the movement: elevating craft to the level of fine art, blurring those boundaries in a critique of industrialization. Cachet explored lettering and ornament, seeing them not just as functional elements but as carriers of meaning, of cultural identity. There was a desire to reconnect art with life, with the everyday object. Editor: I get a real sense of yearning for a connection there. A longing for handmade authenticity in the face of all those increasingly mechanized, impersonal times. And to see it, bare on this piece of grid paper almost feels voyeuristic, and deeply personal, a beautiful record of what inspires creation. Curator: Precisely. What remains today as a sketch gives us insight into this complex artistic position in relation to a rapidly changing society. It invites us to reflect on the role of ornamentation and the value of the handmade in our own lives today. Editor: A beautiful, intimate, invitation to ponder just where we locate our value as well. I leave feeling refreshed and grounded somehow.