Emblemata - Candle Flame 1931

M.C. Escher made this print of a candle flame, using a graphic technique that emphasizes the interplay of light and shadow. It’s an image built from stark contrasts, which feels fitting, given the theme. Looking closely, you can see how Escher meticulously crafted the textures. The candle itself has a waxy build-up, the drips solidifying into sculptural forms. The light from the candle is shown as fine white dots against the dark, like a swarm of tiny particles, full of warmth. The lower half is dominated by the dense blackness of the candle, from which stark lines are drawn, projecting outwards like beams, or the spokes of a wheel. The contrast of the sharp lines against the granular texture creates an unsettling tension. It brings to mind the later work of Gerhard Richter, another artist who understood the beauty of clarity and blur existing side by side. It reminds us that art is a constant conversation between artists, each responding to those who came before. It’s an image that invites us to reflect on our own perceptions of light, darkness, and the transient nature of existence.