Portretkop van Joanna Lion Cachet-Cordes c. 1935 - 1940

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this head portrait of Joanna Lion Cachet-Cordes with what looks like charcoal on paper. The marks are quick and searching, like the artist is trying to find the form within the lines, a process of building the image bit by bit. The charcoal is applied with varying pressure, creating different tonal values. Look at the strong, dark marks used for the hair, applied in hatching strokes, versus the lighter, more delicate lines defining the facial features. You can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the page, and the texture of the charcoal scratching against the paper. I love how the blank space of the paper becomes just as important as the marks themselves, suggesting form without fully defining it. It’s a beautiful example of how a drawing can capture not just an image, but a moment in time. You can see something similar in the work of Käthe Kollwitz, particularly her drawings of women. Both artists used charcoal to create emotionally resonant portraits. With both there is a sense of quiet observation, but also a deep empathy for their subjects.