Fantasieornament 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this design for an ornament using graphite on paper. The linear quality of graphite lends itself beautifully to this kind of precise, symmetrical work. Looking closely, you can see that the pencil lines give real presence to the envisioned form. The paper support also matters. It’s a simple grid, the kind used for technical drawing. This hints at a connection to industrial production. Perhaps this ornament was intended for mass manufacture, incorporated into furniture or architecture. It’s worth thinking about the amount of work involved in creating this design, even before it was realized in another material. Cachet had to be skilled in draftsmanship. By considering the social context of this drawing, we begin to understand how the distinctions between fine art and craft become blurred. Ultimately, it is the careful making and skilled use of materials that gives this artwork its enduring appeal.