Twee jongetjes in de schoolbank 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this drawing of two young boys at school with graphite on paper. Look at the soft, grey, hesitant lines. They are almost caressing the surface of the paper and seem to float across the image. The artist uses just a few lines to suggest weight and volume, giving the drawing a sense of lightness. It’s easy to imagine the artist sketching these boys in real life as they squirmed and fidgeted in their seats! Maybe he was trying to capture a fleeting moment of childhood innocence and boredom. I feel sympathy for the boy in front, he is deep in thought and seems unaware of the artist's gaze. The drawing resonates with the work of other artists, like Käthe Kollwitz, who used drawing to explore themes of childhood and the human condition. It reminds us that artists are always in conversation with one another, across time and space, inspiring each other's creativity. This drawing, with its soft lines and subtle shading, embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.