Scarabs 1935

M.C. Escher made this print of Scarabs using the medium of mezzotint, it’s a process that revels in the subtleties of tone and texture. Look at how he builds up the image with countless tiny marks, a testament to the time and care inherent in the process. The way Escher renders the scarabs, there's a real sense of weight and solidity, their carapaces gleam, the legs like precise instruments. The texture of the dung ball is so tactile, you can almost feel its roughness. See how the light catches the uneven surface, creating a play of shadows that adds depth and dimension? Every tiny indentation seems to catch the light. Escher, like Dürer, loved to explore the world through the lens of pattern and form. They both invite us to see the world in a new light, to appreciate the beauty and complexity of even the humblest of creatures. Art is about seeing, feeling, and thinking, often all at the same time.