Fantasieornamenten c. 1925

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch, Fantasieornamenten, on paper with pencil. Looking at the faint lines, I imagine the artist experimenting, almost doodling, trying out different ornamental ideas, one after the other. There is an incredible intimacy to sketches; you can see the artist thinking, working things out. Cachet probably wasn't sure where these lines would lead him! I know that feeling from my own practice - that sense of just starting, and letting the painting take over. It looks like he was interested in the balance between geometric shapes, and the softer forms in the centre. Were they to become fully realized objects? Or ideas for further exploration? Artists are always in conversation, and I think there are some beautiful notes here from an artist exploring ideas - which is what it's all about! It’s this process of exploration, of not quite knowing, that makes art so exciting.