Duif in storm 1874 - 1931

Curator: "Duif in storm," or "Dove in Storm," is a monochrome etching and drawing printed on paper by Carel Adolph Lion Cachet, dating from between 1874 and 1931. It's currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's instantly evocative, isn't it? Very dramatic. All those swirling lines give a real sense of chaos, almost claustrophobia, with the dark sky pressing down. The bird is a striking image. Curator: Absolutely. Cachet was a master of symbolism. The dove, of course, is often interpreted as a symbol of peace, hope, or even the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography. The "CHRS" at the top of the work, also alludes to this meaning, in which CHRS represents an abbreviation of the name Jesus Christ. Its presence, surrounded by darkness, creates an immediate tension, that plays upon a more general hope. Editor: But caught in a storm! That really throws everything into question. It speaks to the fragility of peace, perhaps? And what's that text swirling amidst the waves? It looks like a cry, a message trapped in the tempest. Curator: It is, yes. The Latin inscription "tranquillus in undis" – "tranquil in the waves." Note how the words surround the figure of the dove in the artwork, like a swirling vortex of dark energy around a glimmering central, holy light. Editor: So it’s a paradox then. Finding serenity amidst the storm, peace in chaos. It's that beautiful dance between hope and despair, so present in the symbolic image of the dove. I am compelled to wonder; could it be Cachet trying to come to terms with internal turmoil during this period of his life? Curator: It certainly resonates with a broader human experience, wouldn't you say? The idea of clinging to hope, to faith, even when the world feels like it's crashing down. I’m led to think how Cachet presents this dichotomy using powerful strokes of darkness and stark illumination. Editor: It's like a visual prayer, almost. Raw and vulnerable. Curator: Indeed, and in contemplating these images and symbolic elements, it encourages us to reflect on where we find solace during turbulent times. Editor: And, to be honest, to remember that even in the worst storms, a little dove-shaped hope can make all the difference.