Koppen en snuiten van giraffen c. 1930

Here we see Carel Adolph Lion Cachet at the Rijksmuseum, with a page from a sketchbook, with some quick and lively studies of giraffes, drawn in ink. It’s all about the line here, right? The artist is feeling his way into the subject, finding the essential curves and volumes with a kind of playful exploration. Look at the variation in the weight of the lines, how they thicken and thin, suggesting form and movement. The texture of the paper peeks through, giving it a casual, immediate feel. Notice the way Cachet captures the giraffe’s head, how a few simple strokes bring it to life. It's like he's sketching not just what he sees, but also what he knows, blending observation with memory. These sketches remind me of Picasso’s animal studies – the same pursuit of capturing essence with minimal means. I love how it feels like we're watching an artist thinking, working, and playing on the page.