Twee jongens in een schoolbank 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this drawing of two boys in a school classroom with graphite on paper. It's got this unfinished, raw quality that I just adore. The texture is so interesting – you can almost feel the grit of the graphite on the page. Look closely at the dark shading of the school desk. See how it's built up with layer upon layer of tiny marks? It’s almost like he’s trying to capture the weight of the moment, the stillness of these kids in their classroom. The shirts they wear contrast against the dark desk. The regular horizontal lines are interupted by the folds of their arms laid on the desk. Cachet's drawing reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker's portraits, that same kind of directness and honesty. Ultimately, it’s a beautiful reminder that art doesn't always have to be polished to be powerful. It’s in those little imperfections, those raw edges, that we find the real heart of the piece.