Vis en zes koppen c. 1930

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch called Vis en zes koppen, or Fish and Six Heads, with graphite on paper. There's a real economy of mark-making here, each line feels so direct, like the artist is trying to capture a fleeting impression. You can see the process so clearly, the ghost of each movement that has gone into its making. The texture of the paper, the way the graphite sits on the surface, all these physical qualities add to the sense of immediacy. Look at the eye of the fish, just a simple circle, but it gives the whole creature a sense of life. Notice how the six heads seem to float above, almost like an afterthought, or a memory. Those confident, sweeping lines almost feel like they could dissolve at any minute. This piece reminds me a little of Matisse's drawings, especially in its playful simplification of form, that lightness of touch. It’s a reminder that art is really a conversation and an exchange of ideas, and an embrace of ambiguity.