Rode chrysant 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this watercolor of a red chrysanthemum at an unknown date. The whole thing has a kind of washy, dreamy quality, doesn't it? It looks like the kind of painting that emerges when you let the medium do its thing. Look how the colors sort of bleed and blend together, creating these soft edges and subtle shifts in tone. The flower itself is a riot of reds and yellows, with each petal rendered in delicate strokes. It's like Cachet was trying to capture the flower's essence, not just its appearance. Notice the dark, moody background? The contrast between the flower and the background makes the bloom seem to glow. It also lends the piece a touch of melancholy. I’m reminded of Odilon Redon, who was also playing with similar themes of symbolism and the inner life. But Cachet’s chrysanthemum feels more grounded, more connected to the natural world. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation, always building on what came before.