Figuurstudies c. 1890

Here are figure studies made by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet using a pencil on paper. Notice the draped figure with the staff, an emblem of authority or guidance since antiquity. Such a figure, robed and bearing a staff, echoes images of ancient oracles or patriarchs, found in Roman sculptures and Renaissance paintings alike. Consider, for example, the depictions of Moses, his staff not just a tool but a symbol of divine power and leadership. Even in later contexts, like Masonic traditions, the staff appears as a symbol of wisdom and direction. The recurring presence of this motif speaks to a deeply ingrained human desire for order and authority. It touches a collective memory, where leaders and guides, whether real or mythical, provide structure and reassurance. This archetypal figure engages us on a subconscious level, triggering associations with protection and wisdom passed down through generations. This symbol's cyclical journey continues, adapting yet retaining its primal allure across cultures and eras.