Bouwtekening c. 1900

This is a construction drawing by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, made with graphite on paper. The linear quality of graphite lends itself to technical drawings, with precise marks crucial to defining shapes and spatial relationships. Here, the artist uses the medium to explore the geometry of architectural structures, perhaps a design or building plan. The careful calculations and annotations suggest this sketch was a preliminary study, a step in a longer design process. We can imagine the artist, hunched over the page, methodically working out the relationships between form and structure. Consider the labor involved in creating even a seemingly simple drawing like this one. It represents a bridge between concept and construction, and suggests the broader systems of labor and construction that are embedded in design practices. Looking at this humble drawing, we are reminded that all design, whether for a grand building or a humble object, begins with the material act of making, and the intention of the maker.