Architectuurstudie c. 1890

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this architectural study with graphite. This piece offers a glimpse into the artistic process through the conventions of architectural drawing. Made in the Netherlands, likely in the late 19th or early 20th century, it reflects the period's focus on detailed observation and technical skill within the context of the Dutch art academies. The sketch demonstrates a blend of precision and freedom, indicative of academic training in the period. Cachet's approach can be seen as either conservative, reinforcing established norms, or progressive, given the period's increasing recognition of sketches as autonomous works. Either way, it serves as an interesting commentary on the institutions of art education. By looking at the curriculum of Dutch art schools at the time, and the careers of students, we can see how an apparently simple architectural study is actually embedded in the culture of the time.