Untitled (Mermaids) 20th century

Gerard Cachet made this print – he called it 'Untitled (Mermaids)' – with some kind of metal plate, acid, and ink. The scene is alive with scratching, a frenetic energy, hatching marks, and a definite sense of maritime drama. I can imagine him, bent over the plate, coaxing the image into being through a series of controlled actions and chance encounters. What might Cachet have been thinking as he scratched into the plate? I can imagine him lost in the process, guided by intuition, and fueled by an admiration for earlier graphic artists such as Félicien Rops. I wonder if he ever thought his work would be seen so many years later? The bold, gestural strokes and the stark contrast between light and shadow create a dynamic visual field and reveal an underlying sense of movement. Cachet makes you want to see what isn't there, and maybe that's where the magic is.