Studieblad, onder andere met lampen en letterontwerpen c. 1903 - 1904

Editor: This is "Studieblad, onder andere met lampen en letterontwerpen," a sketchbook page by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, from around 1903-1904. It’s intriguing to see the artist's thought process so bare; all these lamps and letters feel very 'Art Nouveau.' What does this sheet reveal to you? Curator: The material reality of this page – the very paper, the pencil and ink marks – offers insight into Cachet's artistic labour. It isn't just about the aesthetic result, the flowing lines of Art Nouveau. Think about the act of sketching itself. Editor: I suppose it's almost like looking over his shoulder as he worked through design ideas. Curator: Exactly. And where might such designs be deployed? Lamps themselves reflect changing patterns of energy production and consumption, while letter design served commerce. It invites questions: what kind of client might have commissioned this work? Where would these lamps be displayed? How would they be made? Editor: So it's not just art for art's sake. It’s design, meant for production. Curator: Precisely. It also questions the boundary we often create between "high art" and "craft." Cachet moves fluidly between sketching design ideas for functional objects, like lamps, and more decorative elements, like stylized lettering. The "high art" versus "low art" distinction dissolves when we analyze materials, modes of production, and original context. What did you get from looking closer at this sketch page? Editor: I hadn't really considered how much a sketch could reveal about artistic labor. I was too caught up in just admiring the pretty lines. Curator: I am glad to point that out! Approaching art in that light shows how social forces can shape even seemingly personal or intimate forms like a simple design sketch.