Untitled 1931

This ‘Untitled’ print by M.C. Escher is a lesson in making the most of what you’ve got, with a limited palette, and an even more limited set of marks. There's something about the way Escher has carved these forms, that really sings. The black ink sits on the surface, a dark void punctuated by the stark white of the paper. Look closely, and you'll notice how he uses parallel lines to create volume and texture. See the way he defines the scales on the lizards, or the fur on that horned beast? Each line feels so deliberate, so considered. And yet, there’s something playful about the whole thing, too. Escher reminds me of artists like Josef Albers, who also dedicated their practice to the exploration of a limited set of variables. But unlike Albers, Escher embraced illusion and fantasy. And just as Escher played with perspective and space, his work invites us to question our perceptions, and to embrace the ambiguity of the world around us.