Ontwerp voor ex libris van Carel Lion Cachet 1874 - 1945

This is Carel Adolph Lion Cachet’s design for an ex libris, made with graphite on graph paper. Look at the way the graphite sits on the page, how it clings to the paper, catching on the fibers! You can see the little squares of the graph paper underneath the image, providing a structure for the design. I love how this piece reveals the process, you can really see the artist thinking through the design. The foliage that surrounds the central motif has an almost chaotic energy, but it is anchored by the rigid geometry of the grid beneath. The lines radiate outwards, creating a kind of halo effect around the initials. It reminds me of Hilma af Klint’s more abstract works, which combine organic forms with geometric structures. Both artists use line and shape to explore hidden dimensions. Art is a conversation across time, an exploration of ideas that never really ends.