Azaleabloem c. 1915

This is Carel Adolph Lion Cachet’s “Azaleabloem,” made with brush and ink, and it's all about the dance between control and letting go. The gray sets a subdued stage for the azalea, but look closer, and you'll see how Lion Cachet coaxes the flower into being. The petals aren't just shapes; they're built with individual strokes that gather and swirl. Some are confident, thick lines, others fade like whispers. There’s one petal, right at the top, where the ink seems to pull upward, defying gravity. It makes me think of Georgia O’Keeffe, who also zoomed in on flowers. But where O’Keeffe is about smooth, sensual surfaces, this feels more raw, more immediate. It’s like Lion Cachet is saying, "Here’s how I saw it, here’s how I made it," all in one go. It’s a reminder that art isn't just about the finished product, it's about the journey, the trying, and the unexpected bloom of the process.