Ornament met schepen en een wapen c. 1903 - 1904

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch of an ornament with ships and a coat of arms in the Netherlands. While the exact date of this work is unknown, we can say that Cachet was active during a time of significant social and economic change in the Netherlands, as the country was industrializing and becoming more integrated into the global economy. Cachet was a Dutch artist known for his decorative designs, bookbindings and posters, and this drawing reflects his interest in maritime motifs and heraldry. The ships depicted in the ornament are visual codes for the Netherlands' rich maritime history and its colonial past. The coat of arms suggests a connection to the Dutch aristocracy and its role in shaping the country's political and economic structures. As historians of art, we might consult archives, historical societies, and libraries to learn more about Cachet's artistic development. This process helps us to situate the work within its broader social and institutional context. Understanding art means recognizing it as contingent on social and political factors.