Nieuwe Kerk, Delft 1939

M.C. Escher made this drawing of the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft in 1939, with graphite on paper. You can see Escher's mathematical mind at work, mapping out the interior architecture of the space. I’m thinking about Escher sitting in the cathedral with his graphite pencils and paper. What was he thinking as he constructed this image? He’s so precise, and I imagine he was trying to record every detail of the church. It’s an interesting thing, drawing. It allows an artist to see into something and to record that something for posterity. This drawing of the Nieuwe Kerk is a reminder of that place at that time and a reminder of the artistic process. Even though Escher is best known for his tessellations and impossible constructions, he always had to start somewhere with his pencil. What a legacy!