Grasshopper 1935

This is M.C. Escher’s Grasshopper, a wood engraving. Look how Escher carves into the wood, removing material to create the image – it's an act of revelation, like sculpting. The texture here is just incredible. Take a look at the grasshopper's body, the way Escher uses tiny, precise lines to build up the form, almost like hatching. It's a meticulous process, a real labor of love. And those legs – they have a certain rigidity to them. The contrast between the dark background and the white of the grasshopper really makes it pop, doesn't it? There is a tension, a sense of something about to happen. He reminds me of Dürer with his eye for detail, but Escher takes it to another level, creating these mind-bending, surreal worlds. What I love about Escher is how he makes you question your perception of reality, it's an exploration of space and form that never gets old.