Ornamenten c. 1925

Editor: So, here we have "Ornamenten," an undated drawing from around 1925 by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, rendered in graphite on paper. It looks like preliminary sketches, perhaps for some larger design project. I'm struck by the geometric forms alongside what appear to be some hieroglyphic-type elements… It gives a kind of mystical vibe, somehow architectural and ancient all at once. What do you make of it? Curator: Oh, that's an interesting initial reaction! "Mystical," yes, I feel that too! Cachet, you know, he wasn't just playing around with shapes. He had this deep fascination with symbols, right? He saw them as keys unlocking hidden meanings… The way he combined Art Nouveau-ish curves with those quasi-Egyptian forms is his language! What's it saying? What could those abstracted symbols MEAN? That's up for grabs… He might be saying something pretty deep about history repeating, maybe? Look closely; how does it make YOU feel? Editor: History repeating... That’s an interesting read. Seeing them together like this feels deliberate. How typical was he as an Art Nouveau artist, incorporating elements that might predate the style so vividly? Curator: Cachet, see, was never one to toe the line. I mean, yes, the stylized botanical forms nod to Art Nouveau but, he twists it, adds something…almost rebellious, doesn’t he? He pulls these archaic shapes to give an older foundation, to the idea of ornament and structure, it gives it some heft! I wonder what architects he was checking out in museums, right? How does it fit against the backdrop of its time? I feel transported somewhere lost... Do you see what I mean? Editor: Absolutely! So he's almost using these "ancient" visual cues to comment on modernity or give Art Nouveau a sense of timelessness… Thanks for making the connection for me! Curator: It's a joy! And you see now! I now feel even closer to Cachet; so, it feels we achieved his design objective. What could be better than to spend our lives with objects, images, design and thinking!?