Koeien c. 1930

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this page of cow studies with pen on paper. The rapid, economical lines suggest the artist capturing fleeting moments. The thinness of the pen strokes indicates the artist’s quick hand, revealing a focus on essential forms rather than details. The blank page supports the artist's gesture, highlighting each line and shape. Cachet likely made this sketch in preparation for a larger work. The composition and economy of his lines capture the rural life that was disappearing in Europe at the time. Farms were becoming factories, and handmade goods were becoming mass-produced ones. Here, the handmade mark is foregrounded, bearing witness to a passing way of life. So, as you consider this study of cows, remember that even the simplest sketch can carry profound social and historical significance. The means of production, in this case the artist’s own hand, connect us to the context in which it was made.