Meisje in een jurk met korte mouwen 1874 - 1945

This is a pencil drawing of a girl in a dress, made by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, and held at the Rijksmuseum. Look at how the artist starts with just a few lines, then adds tone to build up the figure. You can almost see him thinking through the form, deciding how much detail is needed, and where to add the most weight. The girl in the dress, rendered with simple lines, stands next to a shadowy, smudged form. It’s like two versions of the same idea. Is it a memory? A double exposure? I love seeing the artist’s process laid bare. You know, painting is like having a conversation with yourself, where each mark leads to another, building towards something that wasn't there before. Seeing this work, I’m reminded of other artists who use drawing to think, like Twombly or Menzel. The conversation between artists continues over time. We all borrow from each other, remixing ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be. We are here to share in that ambiguity and uncertainty and find our own meaning.