Schoolkind, gezien van schuin achter 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this drawing, "Schoolkind, gezien van schuin achter," which translates to "School Child, Seen from a Slant Behind," using graphite. Cachet was part of a generation grappling with the shifting roles and representation of children in rapidly modernizing societies. There’s a sense of detachment in the way he captures the child, who is seen from an oblique angle, seated in the classroom with what looks like a drawing desk. The child is in a highly formative environment, one that shapes their mind and being. It’s as if Cachet is asking us to consider not just the individual, but the system that molds them. What does it mean to be taught, to be educated, to be socialized? Does it nurture or constrain? The child's turned head might even signal a certain reluctance or resistance to this socialization. This sketch invites us to reflect on the intricate interplay between identity, learning, and the silent pressures that shape us all.