Staande man c. 1890

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this sketch called ‘Standing Man’ with a pencil. In this image, we see the artist's interest in capturing the human form with minimal strokes, which was part of a wider artistic interest at the time. Cachet lived through a period of social and political change in the Netherlands, including shifts in colonialism and the rise of modernism. The sketch is a study of form and posture which might seem like a simple exercise, but the way an artist chooses to represent the human body can say a lot about their views on society. Cachet's choice of subject and style reflects his engagement with contemporary artistic movements and his response to the social structures of his time. Understanding the sketch requires us to look at the historical context and artistic influences that shaped Cachet’s work. By researching the history of art institutions and movements in the Netherlands, as well as the social and political issues of the time, we can gain a better understanding of the significance of this work.