Kastanjeknoppen 1874 - 1945

Curator: Let's consider Carel Adolph Lion Cachet's watercolor, "Kastanjeknoppen," or "Chestnut Buds," created sometime between 1874 and 1945. It strikes me as a straightforward botanical study, quite delicate despite its depiction of somewhat weighty forms. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It's interesting how he's captured these buds. The heavy black shapes contrast with the more delicate rendering of the buds themselves. The watercolors have a real freshness. What can you tell me about the materials and processes he used? Curator: Note the paper first; its likely locally sourced, inexpensive. See the quick, washy strokes. He’s not attempting photographic realism here, right? Cachet is making a statement about artistic labor here. How easily can something like this be reproduced on a mass scale? How does it fit into a market of similar works? Editor: So you are saying the materiality speaks to questions around labor and mass production in that time? It’s interesting you frame it that way because initially I didn't see the social context so directly. The quickness of the painting gives it a sense of immediacy. Curator: Exactly! Think about the watercolor medium itself. It’s transportable, relatively inexpensive compared to oil paints, and suited to quick studies. Watercolor facilitates a kind of artistic mobility, allowing Cachet to capture these chestnut buds seemingly en plein air without investing massive amounts of capital in doing so. How does it relate to changing perceptions of "high" and "low" art, especially given his later work with craft objects? Editor: I hadn’t considered the connection to his other craft-based works, but that reframes my understanding of his artistic intent and of his market positioning. Curator: Precisely! By considering the materials and the means of production, we get a far richer appreciation for Cachet's position as an artist and his potential commentary on art and labor. Editor: I learned that considering the cost and ease of production can tell a whole story about the value an artist is placing on their work! Thanks!