Tessellation of Fishes c. 1960

This is M.C. Escher’s “Tessellation of Fishes,” made with ink on paper. The artwork is a fascinating exploration of pattern and form. At first glance, the composition may appear as a collection of identical fish, but it quickly reveals a complex structure. Escher masterfully interlocks the fish in a seamless, repetitive design. Each shape is precisely calculated to fit together. The palette of light greens and golds enhance this sense of order and harmony, drawing our eyes across the surface. Escher's work engages with mathematical principles to explore ideas about infinity, symmetry, and the relationship between art and science. The repeating motif of fish, each tessellated to fill the plane without gaps or overlaps, functions as a semiotic system, where the form of the fish represents both itself and its role within the larger structural arrangement. Notice how the formal qualities, such as the edges of each fish, are defined not only by their shape but also by their adjacency to one another. This interplay between figure and ground challenges fixed meanings, inviting an ongoing interpretation of how forms communicate ideas and reflect underlying structures.