Lijnen 1874 - 1945

Curator: Here we have "Lijnen", a drawing by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, created sometime between 1874 and 1945. The medium is simple: graphite on paper. What are your first thoughts? Editor: Chaotic, yet balanced. There's an energetic scrambling quality to the mark-making, which also strikes me as strangely serene. I am also interested in the weight of the lines-- heavily smudged, but somehow floating. Curator: I find your read fascinating. Note how the stark contrast of the graphite lines against the bright white paper creates an immediate sense of depth and spatial complexity, despite the image being so minimal. How the lines, like script, trace space. It is pure abstract relationality. Editor: I wonder about the artist's process. What kind of graphite did Cachet use? The marks vary so wildly from thin, dark precise edges to smeared, diffuse surfaces. You see clear evidence of application, and also removal and adjustments on the paper's surface. Was the support archival? Was this intended for gallery display? These drawings were produced in a sketchbook format, which suggests their functionality was likely explorative. Curator: Interesting observation. Speaking formally, the absence of color simplifies our analysis, directing us towards the underlying architecture of the work itself. See the interplay of straight and curved lines. The curves soften the severity of the angles and also serve as vectors for a reader’s gaze to be carried through the whole. Editor: Right, because those are crucial for understanding the physical engagement involved in making art, challenging any notions of art floating outside material existence. Looking again at the composition, one can see where Cachet stopped, re-applied, blurred the pigment across the fibers of the sheet... it reveals so much. Curator: Ultimately, for me, "Lijnen" showcases a profound elegance through simplicity. I enjoy it even more now thanks to our brief reflection. Editor: Indeed. Understanding the conditions and materials gives us richer insight into the possibilities of creative intervention by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, which might be the most profound encounter to seek in experiencing "Lijnen".