Bloemstudie 1874 - 1945

This is Carel Adolph Lion Cachet’s “Bloemstudie,” or “Flower Study,” made with brush and gray wash on paper. I love how the flower emerges and almost peeks out from these assertive, confident strokes. I can imagine Lion Cachet's hand moving quickly, trying to capture the flower's essence before it changed or wilted. He must have been thinking about the way light hits the petals, how they curve and unfold, and how to convey all of that with just a few strokes of gray wash. Look at how the darker washes define the shadows around the flower, creating depth and volume. It’s as if Lion Cachet is saying, "Here’s what I saw, here’s what I felt," and leaving it up to us to fill in the rest. This piece reminds me that art is about seeing and feeling, and sharing that experience with others. It makes you realize we are all connected through this ongoing conversation.