Distelbladeren 1874 - 1945

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet rendered these thistle leaves with watercolor and graphite, their spiky edges softened by the delicate medium. Thistles, often seen as symbols of adversity and protection, have long held a place in heraldry and folklore. Think of Scotland, where the thistle is a national emblem, said to have protected the land from invaders. Yet, these plants also carry undertones of sorrow and earthly troubles, as alluded to in Christian symbolism. The presence of the thistle transcends mere botanical representation; it speaks to a primal understanding of nature’s dual capacity to both wound and heal. In the Renaissance, thorny plants emerged often in allegorical works, reminders of human suffering, and in the context of Cachet's era, the late 19th and early 20th century, the thistle might symbolize resilience amidst the burgeoning industrial landscape, a persistent emblem of the natural world holding its own. Its repetitive reappearance is no accident; it is cultural memory taking root.