Ontwerp voor een broche (?) 1874 - 1945

Editor: Here we have "Design for a Brooch(?)" created by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, dating somewhere between 1874 and 1945. It’s an ink drawing with color pencil on paper, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. The contrast between the delicate circular design and the solid black background is quite striking! What is your take on this? Curator: Well, looking at the process, this isn’t simply about aesthetics; it's a commercial design. Cachet clearly is considering not just form, but function and, implicitly, mass production. Consider the medium: ink and colored pencil on paper. It's relatively inexpensive, allowing for experimentation before committing to precious metals. Do you notice how the geometric details simplify well for potential reproduction? Editor: I see what you mean. So, you're saying it's not just a pretty design, but a prototype almost, thinking about the manufacturing? Curator: Precisely. The Art Nouveau style lends itself well to such serial creation. Think about the social context: the rise of the middle class and their desire for accessible luxury. These brooches would be fashioned for widespread consumption, a material expression of a changing society. How might the division of labor within a factory affect the creation of this brooch, relative to, say, an individually crafted piece? Editor: It’s like seeing beyond the beautiful object to the factory floor, the artisans, and the intended customer. I never considered that before! Curator: Exactly. Art isn’t separate from the modes of its production and reception. And now consider what its impact might be today, given changes in material values. Editor: This makes me think differently about what “design” really means in a historical context, it has embedded labour and intention. Thanks so much!