The Hamlet of Turello, Southern Italy 1932

M.C. Escher made this print of The Hamlet of Turello, Southern Italy using black ink to describe the sun-drenched architecture and landscape. The overall impression is one of looking down into a valley from an elevated viewpoint—a scene bustling with activity. I imagine Escher carefully observing the scene, and then committing it to paper. I can almost see him hunched over his work, squinting to capture the nuances of light and shadow. Think about the physical act of mark-making, the repetitive, almost meditative process of building up tone and texture with tiny strokes. The medium demands patience, precision, and a keen eye. Look how Escher uses line to define form and create depth, and note the texture he's built-up in the foreground, which contrasts with the distant mountains. He really guides your eye through space here, doesn’t he? Like many artists, Escher invites us to see and feel the world through his unique lens.