Ontwerp voor een muurlamp, in de vorm van een zeepaardje 1874 - 1945

Curator: This pencil drawing, entitled "Ontwerp voor een muurlamp, in de vorm van een zeepaardje," is attributed to Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, and was created sometime between 1874 and 1945. Editor: It has a dreamy quality, almost like a glimpse into an underwater fantasy world. The use of pencil creates a softness that contrasts interestingly with the angular lines of what seems to be the lamp structure. Curator: Right, this aligns with the Art Nouveau movement, characterized by its emphasis on organic forms and flowing lines. I see a distinct break from the rigid industrial aesthetics and, instead, a focus on the natural world and its integration into everyday objects. It makes me think of the social upheaval and reimagining of class hierarchies during that era. Editor: I’m drawn to how it appears to be a working sketch, laid bare without embellishment. You can see the artist figuring things out, the construction and geometry of it, from the stylized seahorse to the fixtures – revealing the making process. It also begs the question – what kind of workshop created this? Who were the people involved? What are their stories? Curator: And thinking about design from a modern lens, consider the gendering of domestic space at the time. Seahorses and these stylized natural forms became very popular, imbuing middle class drawing rooms with images of the sea and the "feminine." This suggests much about who interior design and consumption are really meant to benefit. Editor: Absolutely. Also consider the material implications. If this drawing had turned into an actual mass-produced lamp, the resources used and the industrial labor required to bring Cachet's concept to life – these details transform a pretty drawing into a social reality. Curator: I agree, viewing it through these different perspectives—identity, materials, consumption—enriches our understanding. This small sketch opens to bigger societal implications. Editor: It takes us on a journey. Cachet's creation transcends mere design and invites consideration of what it meant to imagine this object and then bring it into being during a complex historical period.