Ontwerp voor de bijlage behorende bij de pensioenbrief van de Stoomvaart Maatschappij Nederland 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this design for a pension fund document probably with watercolor and ink, sometime in the early 20th century. It's such a delicate piece. I can imagine him carefully mapping out the text, then letting loose with those breezy flags up top. They're almost like a sigh of relief after all that detailed lettering. I wonder if he was thinking about the weight of bureaucracy versus the freedom of the seas? The muted tones give it a sense of nostalgia, like an old photograph. It reminds me of some early modernist typography, but with a softer, more human touch. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the paper. It’s like he’s whispering, “Even in paperwork, there can be beauty.” And maybe a little rebellion, too.