Bloemstudie 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet created this delicate ‘Bloemstudie’ using pen and grey ink, and grey wash on paper. Cachet lived through the end of the Dutch colonial era, and his work reflects the complex cultural exchanges of the time. Cachet lived between two worlds: his art training firmly grounded in European traditions, yet his cultural heritage tied to Dutch colonialism. His works often featured images from far away, reflecting a longing for an exoticized homeland. Cachet's choice of depicting a flower takes on deeper meaning when viewed through the lens of colonial history. Flowers were often transplanted and categorized, reflecting a desire to control and classify the natural world. In Cachet's ‘Bloemstudie’, the flower is presented in a muted palette, which evokes a sense of nostalgia. The flower can be seen as a symbol of cultural identity, shaped by both personal experience and historical context.