G. Escher-Umiker 1925

This is M.C. Escher’s "G. Escher-Umiker," a woodcut made with black ink on paper. The striking use of black and white gives the image a real graphic punch, and the contrast helps to define the form of the figure, but also contributes to a feeling of quiet contemplation. You can really see the physical act of cutting into the wood to make this print. Look at the lines, how they vary in thickness and spacing. In the background, the straight lines almost create a sense of rain or a curtain, enclosing the figure in her private world. The face is rendered with very fine lines that seem to follow the contours, giving it a soft, almost vulnerable quality. I keep coming back to the hand holding the flower. The delicacy of the flower against the more angular lines of the hand creates a beautiful tension. Escher is best known for his mathematically inspired prints, so it's great to see this more personal work which reminds me a little of the German Expressionist artist, Käthe Kollwitz. Art's like a big conversation, isn't it?