Twee jongetjes in de schoolbank 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this drawing of two young boys at school, but we don’t know when or with what, exactly. The surface is all subtle variations of grey and beige, created through these delicate pencil lines, laid down with such grace. It’s a great example of how something as simple as graphite can create so much atmosphere. Look at the way Cachet used hatching to define the forms of the boys. See the density of lines around the boy’s head in the foreground; it’s like a whole world is contained in that small space. Then compare that to the face of the boy behind, which is much more diffuse and ghostly. There’s something about this contrast that makes me think about the different ways we experience the world as children, some of us shy, some of us bold. I am reminded of Paula Modersohn-Becker’s drawings of children; both artists embrace a kind of rawness and emotional directness. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, echoing and responding to voices across time.