Corsica, Calanche 1934

This is M.C. Escher's "Corsica, Calanche" made using lithography. The entire composition has this wonderful hazy quality, a result of the mark making, small stipples or lines. I think this way of working shows us artmaking as a long, slow process, not a race. Look at how Escher has depicted the textures in this print. The rocks in the foreground are more clearly defined, with sharper lines creating a sense of solidity and weight, whereas in the background, everything sort of fades off into a grey fuzziness. The contrast between these two areas creates depth, making us feel like we are standing on solid ground, looking out into the distance. There is a figure at the very top of the rocks, it is a tiny detail, but is that a man or a woman? Escher's work shares similarities with the surreal landscapes of Yves Tanguy. Both invite us to consider art as an ongoing conversation, where meaning is never fixed.