Studies van duiven 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made these studies of doves with ink on paper. I love the looping lines that make up the doves, how some of them are reduced to almost nothing, just a memory of a dove. The economy of the lines, their simplicity, gives the image a modern feel. It’s like the artist is figuring out the essence of 'dove-ness’. I can imagine him working quickly, trying to capture the birds' movements, their little gestures. The marks are so intuitive, as if he’s not even thinking, just feeling the shape of the bird through his hand, a direct response to the world in front of him. It makes me think about the way artists are always looking at other artists’ work. They have this silent conversation across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways, to draw a perfect dove, or a pretty good one. The artist tries again and again until something emerges.