Blad met ornamenten, boot, wagen en wapen van Nederland 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this ornament, boat, wagon and weapon of the Netherlands. I wonder what that process was like? It’s like the artist was thinking about wallpaper, or maybe fabric design, and seeing what would happen if you repeated the same things over and over with a limited palette of off-whites and tans. And what’s cool is that there are boats and weapons, very specific signifiers of nationhood, but rendered as pattern. Do you think they knew they were doing something interesting by juxtaposing that with images of home life? I really admire people who can make patterns! It takes a special kind of patience and imagination. I imagine the artist considered how images and patterns can shift meanings, sometimes losing their original power through repetition, and sometimes gaining new resonance. It reminds me of how artists build on the ideas of those who came before, reinterpreting and reimagining familiar forms. It is a fascinating process that allows for endless creativity and expression.