Birthday card for G.Gershoff (November 1938) 1938

M.C. Escher made this birthday card for G.Gershoff, in November 1938, probably using a wood engraving. The stark contrast, the play of light and shadow - it’s all about the process of cutting away to reveal the image. You can almost feel the artist's hand, carefully carving each line. Look closely at the radiating lines emanating from the window. They bring a warmth that contrasts with the cold facade. The textures are so interesting - the smooth, flat planes of the buildings against the grainy texture of the sky. The tiny bare trees are like scratch marks, suggesting a cold winters scene. The card reminds me of the work of Gustave Doré, who also made detailed wood engravings. The conversation between artists, across time and space, is what makes art so exciting. Escher embraces ambiguity, inviting us to find our own meaning within the stark beauty of the birthday card.