Dimensions: height 362 mm, width 233 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This cover design for a biography of Gerhard Moritz Roentgen was made in 1923 by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet. It's this incredible dance of purple lines on a creamy background, where the negative space feels just as important as the shapes themselves. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paper peeking through the ink, reminding you of the handmade nature of the printmaking process. It's not about perfection; it's about the layering and the little imperfections that give it character. Notice the symmetry but then the subtle variations, like the slight wobble of the lines that keeps your eye moving. There is one stray mark, a little dash under the central cartouche which really humanises the work. Cachet’s style reminds me a little of Aubrey Beardsley, with that same love for intricate patterns and bold graphic statements. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is always in conversation, borrowing and reimagining across time.
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