Ornament met een steenbok c. 1928

Curator: Here we have "Ornament met een steenbok", or "Ornament with a Capricorn," a drawing by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, created around 1928. It's a fascinating example of the artist's sketchbook work. Editor: My first impression is that it's surprisingly sparse. A simple, almost childlike rendering, yet intriguing. There is such economy of line. It reminds me of architectural planning; something deconstructed. Curator: It does have that blueprint quality. It is an Art Deco-style sketch, primarily using pencil on paper, seemingly a study for a more elaborate design. The capricorn, a powerful symbol, is rendered in this rather rudimentary style; its horns appear almost comically exaggerated. Editor: Capricorn, of course, has such deep-rooted astrological and mythological associations, particularly with determination and ambition. Here, it’s reduced to an initial concept, free of the patriarchal and often quite gendered mythmaking that often comes with astrological symbols. The lightness of touch challenges those traditionally very masculine tropes, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely. It appears almost levitating rather than striding purposefully. In ancient Mesopotamian art, the Capricorn was associated with Ea, the god of wisdom and freshwater. Perhaps Cachet aimed to capture a fleeting idea related to knowledge, using the Capricorn as a trigger rather than a complete statement. Editor: That notion of ephemeral wisdom captured in the fluidity of the sketch is a compelling one. The rough line-work removes it from a finished, polished commodity, and opens it up to potential reinterpretations and readings. Its lack of fixity gives it space to breathe. Curator: Indeed. It feels less like a declarative image and more like an invitation to meditate on themes of ambition, determination, and the wisdom they might bring. It almost transcends its original Art Deco intention. Editor: I'm leaving with a feeling that this simple image undermines traditionally "strong" symbols, rendering it less an assertion of power, but more a study in gentle strength. A powerful contemporary approach, ironically rendered using the bones of tradition.