Lampen en een kroonluchter c. 1897 - 1898

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this pencil drawing of lamps and a chandelier some time between 1880 and 1945. It depicts a set of light fixtures, sketched in a freehand style. Cachet was working during a period of significant social and technological change in the Netherlands. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the rise of industrialization and urbanization. The design of domestic objects, like these light fixtures, reflected new technologies and changing social norms. Electric lighting was becoming more common, and interior design was a way for the growing middle class to express its status and taste. The Rijksmuseum and other institutions of art played a role in shaping these tastes. The museum was founded in 1800 and expanded in the late 19th century to reflect the growing importance of national culture and identity. You might find it interesting to research the institutional history of design in the Netherlands during this period.