Circle Limit III 1959

M.C. Escher made this woodcut print, Circle Limit III, by hand, using gouges to carve away the surface of the block, leaving behind the lines and shapes he wanted to appear in the final image. Escher was not formally trained in mathematics, but he had a deep interest in geometry, especially tessellations. He spent countless hours experimenting with different patterns and symmetries, all of which demanded acute technical skill. Notice how the fish radiate outward from the center. This reflects hyperbolic geometry, where straight lines curve as they approach the edge of the circle, which represents infinity. The process required meticulous planning and execution. It's a painstaking and time-consuming method, demanding patience and precision. Escher himself described the mathematical basis for his woodcuts. The intense labor that went into making this print is a testament to Escher’s brilliance. Ultimately, works like this invite us to see craft and fine art not as separate categories, but as intertwined expressions of human creativity.