Ontwerp voor wapenschild voor Barnaert of Oem van Wijngaarden 1874 - 1945

This is Carel Adolph Lion Cachet’s ‘Ontwerp voor wapenschild voor Barnaert of Oem van Wijngaarden’, a design for a coat of arms, made with pen and ink on paper. I’m really drawn to the way the thick black ink defines these heraldic shapes. It’s like seeing thoughts take form – you can almost feel the artist working out the design, playing with different motifs and arrangements. Look at the top-right corner, with the dense pattern of leaves and the bird – it’s so decorative and energetic. The ink is laid down with such confidence, giving a real graphic punch to the composition. The different textures achieved through simple lines and shapes really bring the design to life. Cachet was a designer and decorative artist, and this piece shows how he could bring imagination and artistry to even functional designs. It reminds me of the work of Aubrey Beardsley, also working with bold lines and stark contrast. Art is a conversation, right?