Hexagonal Fish Vignette 1955

M.C. Escher made this image, Hexagonal Fish Vignette, using black ink to create a mind-bending pattern. It's a pretty high contrast image, and the black and white shapes make it hard to know where to look first! I love the way the fish are tessellated, it's almost like a puzzle. You can see the precision in each mark, and you know that Escher laboured over this and that, for me, is what gives it such a unique and compelling energy. Look how the fish all fit perfectly together. I wonder if Escher was thinking about the art of mathematical tiling, or maybe just wanted to create a bit of visual fun? It reminds me of Bridget Riley’s Op-Art from the 60s. Art that plays with your perception, and shows you how we construct our reality. It shows us that seeing isn't as simple as we think!