Ornamentontwerpen c. 1897 - 1898

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch of ornament designs in the Netherlands, though the exact date is unknown. As a designer, Cachet worked in a climate that was witnessing the rapid expansion of museums and design schools, all seeking to define ‘good taste’. Cachet worked in the context of the Arts and Crafts movement, which was highly influential in the Netherlands. Note the emphasis on natural forms, such as the vines and leaves in the lower design, which were typical of the movement. The Arts and Crafts movement was often critical of industrial manufacturing and sought to re-establish the importance of handcraft, connecting aesthetic form to socialist values. As art historians, we can look at the cultural context of Cachet’s designs, researching publications from the time to better understand contemporary debates around design and craftsmanship. This helps us understand how art is always connected to broader social and institutional contexts.