Ontwerp voor een bord van aardewerk ter gelegenheid van de geboorte van prinses Juliana in 1909

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this design for an earthenware plate in 1909 to celebrate the birth of Princess Juliana. It's a drawing, so we see the bones of the design, the foundational architecture that gives it shape. Look at the confident black ink that boldly defines the circular emblem. It's precise, graphic and allows the eye to travel around the form. Then, notice the lighter pencil marks sketching out alternative motifs and crests. It's a peek behind the curtain, like seeing an artist thinking on paper. I'm really drawn to the top motif with it's bold T shape that anchors the design. The way the ink sits on the page, the texture of the paper itself, all these material things speak to the hand of the artist, the choices they made. This work reminds me of other graphic designers and illustrators like Aubrey Beardsley. It's like art is constantly whispering to itself across time, isn't it? Each piece a new verse in an ongoing conversation.