G. Escher-Umiker 1925

This woodcut print by M.C. Escher shows a woman, head bowed, gazing at a flower. I’m thinking about Escher making this image, cutting away at the block, how the stark black and white creates a sense of both light and shadow. The parallel lines create volume and depth while simultaneously flattening the image. The contrast between the dark background and the white lines accentuates the woman's contemplative mood, the flower drooping in her delicate hands. It’s like she is protecting it, or maybe she's sad it will wilt. Painters are always in conversation, right? When I look at this print, I'm reminded of the German Expressionists and their exploration of the human condition through bold, graphic forms. Escher used the reductive process of carving to amplify feelings. It is about seeing, feeling, thinking, and experiencing the world, all wrapped up in a single, powerful image.