Studies van menselijke anatomie 1874 - 1945

This is Carel Adolph Lion Cachet's "Studies van menselijke anatomie," a pen drawing on paper housed in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is a seemingly random arrangement of anatomical sketches, from spinal cross-sections to a full skull, all floating on a lined page. The lines are precise, yet the shading is minimal, creating a stark contrast that highlights the contours and structures of the human form. The use of linear perspective and the starkness of the drawing invite us to dissect not just the physical form but also the conceptual frameworks we impose on the body. This piece compels a re-evaluation of our understanding of the human form—stripped bare, categorized, and presented in isolation. The artist challenges us to think about how we define ourselves through the structures that confine us.