Jongen zittend aan een tekentafel c. 1895

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this drawing, "Boy Sitting at a Drawing Table," with graphite on paper. We can consider this work in the context of the Dutch art education system and the social role of the artist in the Netherlands. Cachet, born in 1864, would have been trained within a system that emphasized technical skill and adherence to established artistic conventions. Art academies played a key role, shaping artists' styles and career paths. This drawing, with its focus on a young artist, may reflect Cachet's own engagement with, or perhaps even a critique of, these institutional structures. The drawing can be further understood by researching the specific art schools Cachet attended, and the prevailing artistic theories of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It’s through understanding the social and institutional context that we can come to a richer understanding of his work and the function of art during this time.