Sphere Surface with Fish 1958

M.C. Escher made this print, called Sphere Surface with Fish, at an unknown date using lithography. The first thing you notice are the lines. So many lines! They're so precise, so deliberate. You can almost feel Escher's hand moving across the surface, carefully plotting each line. This piece is like a testament to the power of process. He wasn't just creating an image; he was engaging in a meticulous act of world-building. There’s a subtle texture to the surface, a slight variation in the ink. It reminds me that, even in the most precise of works, the hand of the artist always leaves its trace. Take a look at where the lines converge at the top of the sphere. There's a slight thickening of the ink, a subtle blurring of the lines. It’s like a tiny imperfection that reminds us of the human element behind this seemingly mechanical process. Thinking about other artists, this piece feels related to the work of Sol LeWitt. Both artists were interested in systems, but Escher brought a playfulness that is all his own.