Ontwerp met zes leeuwen 1874 - 1945

Curator: Wow, look at this rhythmic pattern of ink on paper. It’s titled "Design with Six Lions," and comes to us from Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, dating between 1874 and 1945. What do you think, editor? Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how decorative it feels, a stylized frieze of lions. There's a tension between the regal animal and the geometric abstraction around them. Almost heraldic, isn't it? Like a crest begging to be emblazoned. Curator: Exactly! There's such graphic power in the Art Nouveau style. See how he uses solid shapes of ink, building form from strong, black silhouettes? It's deceptively simple but powerfully conveys form and tension. The piece sings with decorative possibility. Editor: Lions often symbolize courage, nobility, and power. I wonder, given the date range of the piece, if there's any resonance with those ideals amidst shifting political climates? Are these symbols of resilience, holding fast to traditional virtues in a world turned upside down? The image definitely seems timeless. Curator: Possibly! Or perhaps he just thought lions looked cool, haha. But the mirroring of the creatures enhances a feeling of balance, though it’s clearly meant to be functional. But, still! Symmetry and asymmetry playing beautifully with each other. What a wild paradox. Editor: You're right. Regardless of intention, the lion, a classic symbol of authority, is rendered here almost like a repeating pattern. Stripped down to its essential form, made into an ornament... What does it say about our relationship with these symbols of power? Has the form overtaken the actual symbol? Curator: So interesting, that point of view. I see this almost as a dance between graphic design and fine art; that maybe Cachet has captured these beasts frozen in movement. It feels vital, still. Even across such a gulf of time. Editor: Ultimately, it's that visual tension, between symbol and decoration, between power and pattern, that makes this piece so engaging. Curator: Absolutely, and with the understanding, still, that images continue to carry powerful meaning through design choices alone. What a piece to discover, hidden here in the collection!