Ontwerpen voor lampen 1908

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made these lamp design sketches with pencil. Looking at these drawings, I think about how artmaking is really a process of thinking through making. The pencil lines are so light and tentative, and you can see him working out the different shapes and forms. It's like he's having a conversation with the paper, trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. The thin, grey marks on the page let you see the bare bones of the design, but there is also a precision to them. It's not just about getting the shapes right, but also about creating a sense of balance and harmony. I think of the graphic scores of someone like Fredrick Kiesler, the drawings have a similar improvisatory feel. Like those scores, these sketches invite us into the artist's thinking process. We can see him wrestling with the challenges of design and ultimately embracing the beauty of imperfection.