Ontwerp voor een ex libris met monogram en leeuwen 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet designed this ex libris with ink and graphite. Can you imagine him carefully outlining these fierce looking lions, each with its own unique expression and pose? I wonder if he started with the central monogram, letting the looping letters dictate the space around them? He probably wanted to create a sense of heraldic symmetry and might have been thinking about the tradition of family crests and emblems. The contrast between the solid black ink and delicate graphite lines gives a sense of depth, as if the lions are emerging from the darkness. It makes me think about the tension between control and chance. I can see Lion Cachet experimenting, adding details, and refining his composition until he achieved just the right balance of power and elegance. It's really wonderful.