Sengela, Malta 1935

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this print, "Sengela, Malta," created by M.C. Escher in 1935 using etching and ink. What's your immediate take on this cityscape? Editor: Well, initially it evokes a sense of tranquil immobility despite all the architectural activity. The linear style with muted tones suggests perhaps a dream-like vision of the port, or some antique map, something precious and slightly surreal. Curator: Surreal, yes, and the sharp precision definitely makes this far removed from purely observational. Notice how Escher uses etching to achieve incredible detail in the buildings and the water, drawing our eye from the fortress at the right all the way across to the city on the horizon? There is a stark material contrast between the smooth steel of the ship and the rough, stone construction all around. Editor: That's what strikes me: this opposition of textures between that immense vessel anchored in place alongside all those massive historical structures. A statement, perhaps, on Malta's evolving role, transitioning between an ancient, walled stronghold, a vibrant modern port, all united and secured through that symbolic calm. Curator: Agreed. The ship becomes another structure occupying its own space within this very strategic harbour. The print is clearly representational, yet those endless receding lines, carefully laid using etching techniques, convey so much about depth, space, and manufacture of our surrounding. It demonstrates how method impacts meaning, a theme very visible through much of Escher's output. The controlled technique contrasts against his later exploration of infinitely recursive, and distorted reality. Editor: Precisely, and thinking iconographically, ships often carry rich connotations, a harbinger of trade, maybe colonization. Then you have the fortresses – defensive structures – symbols of cultural resilience and dominance. That blend tells a comprehensive story about Malta's socio-political narrative as a historic island. Curator: Looking closely reveals so much intention in what feels like a realistic presentation of a city at port, emphasizing how every mark made is linked to industry and production. The materials show and celebrate the city. Editor: A wonderful reminder to seek more from seemingly traditional representational forms; so much visual weight embedded even here.