Studie, mogelijk een insect 1895

This sketch, possibly of an insect, was made by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, using graphite on paper. The soft, grainy texture of the graphite lends a provisional quality to the drawing, like a fleeting thought captured in lines. Look closely, and you can see how the artist built up the forms with simple strokes. The insect emerges from the page as a geometric, almost architectural figure, with a sense of humor. While seemingly modest, the medium of graphite connects to a complex history. Graphite pencils became widely available in the 19th century due to industrial production, making drawing accessible to a broader public. This small sketch is therefore embedded in the larger story of material innovation, and the increasing democratization of artmaking. It reminds us that even the simplest materials carry layers of cultural meaning.