Figuurschetsen 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch in graphite, crayon, and colored pencil. It's held at the Rijksmuseum. The loose depiction of figures brings to mind Dutch society at the turn of the twentieth century. Cachet, who trained at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, explores traditional Dutch dress here. He uses visual codes of color and form to create meaning. The cultural references in the sketch show Dutch identity and pride in the country's heritage, especially its maritime history and its rural culture. The sketch seems to document the artist’s observations of the clothing worn by everyday Dutch citizens and the aesthetic and cultural values of the time. To understand it better, researchers might look at costume history, design history, or the history of Dutch national identity. Art is a product of specific times and places.