Koppen van een meisje en een man met een snor 1905 - 1906

Carel Adolph Lion Cachet made this pencil sketch of a girl and a mustachioed man, perhaps in a sketchbook, capturing those fleeting moments of observation we all experience. The materiality is all about the stark contrast of the grey pencil against the pale ground of the paper. The textures are minimal but expressive; scratchy lines define the man's features, while softer, flowing strokes suggest the girl's hair. Notice how the artist uses hatching to create depth and shadow, particularly around the girl's face and head. These marks aren't just descriptive, they also convey a sense of movement and energy. This kind of direct, immediate drawing feels related to work by Paula Modersohn-Becker, who also captured friends and family in an unadorned manner. Ultimately, it’s the sketch-like quality, the way the artist embraces imperfection and spontaneity, that makes this work so compelling.