Devils 1950

M.C. Escher made this woodcut print, Devils, using a painstaking relief carving process. Escher cut away the negative space surrounding his tessellated demons from the block’s surface, leaving only the lines he wished to appear. Considering the properties of wood, think about how the grain influences the final image. Woodcut requires force and control to achieve clean lines and precise details. The artist must also carefully consider the direction of the grain, which affects the ease and quality of the cut. The resulting print embodies the labor-intensive process of its creation. Each line and shape is a testament to Escher's skill, requiring careful carving with specialized tools. The stark contrast between black and white emphasizes the graphic quality of the design, highlighting the artist's clever manipulation of positive and negative space to create the interlocking figures. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand the full meaning of an artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.