Staande lamp en ontwerpen voor lampenvoeten 1908

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made these lamp design studies in pencil, and what strikes me is how they capture the raw energy of the design process itself. There's a directness in the lines, a sense of exploration, as if we're seeing the artist think on paper. Look at the way Cachet uses varying line weights; some are tentative and light, others bold and assertive. The overall effect reminds me of handwriting. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the page. I’m drawn to the flourishes in the lamp base on the top right. There's something playful about these lines, like a visual echo of the light the lamp will eventually cast. I see a connection to the Arts and Crafts movement in this work. Think of William Morris; both artists share a similar interest in craftsmanship and detail, and both embrace a sense of handmade quality. It's art as a conversation, an ongoing dialogue across time and forms.