Week 28: Portrait Drawing - Light and Shadow
Maurits Cornelis Escher, commonly known as M.C. Escher, was a Dutch graphic artist renowned for his intricate and mind-bending works that explore mathematical concepts, optical illusions, and impossible realities. Born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, Escher showed an early interest in drawing, which led him to study graphic arts at the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem. Though initially trained as an architect, Escher soon found his passion for graphic arts, particularly printmaking, which became his primary medium.
Escher's work is characterized by meticulous detail, precise geometry, and the use of tessellation, where interlocking shapes form repetitive patterns. He often explored themes such as infinity, reflection, symmetry, and the interplay between two and three-dimensional spaces. His art is celebrated for its ability to challenge viewers' perceptions and provoke thought about the nature of reality and the limitations of visual perception. Despite his lack of formal mathematical training, Escher collaborated with mathematicians and scientists, and his work is appreciated both in the art world and in scientific communities.
Famous Works
1. "Relativity" (1953):
One of Escher's most famous lithographs, "Relativity" features a world in which the normal laws of gravity do not apply. The artwork depicts a complex architectural space with multiple staircases, each oriented differently, leading to different gravitational planes. People walk up and down these stairs, seemingly defying the laws of physics.
2. "Drawing Hands" (1948):
This lithograph depicts two hands drawing each other, creating a paradoxical image where the creator and the creation are one and the same. It exemplifies Escher's fascination with recursion and the idea of the impossible.
3. "Waterfall" (1961):
In "Waterfall," Escher creates an optical illusion of a perpetual motion machine, where water appears to flow uphill and then cascade back down in an endless loop. The impossible construction captivates viewers, challenging their understanding of space and perspective.
"Relativity" (1953)
"Relativity" is a seminal work by M.C. Escher, created as a lithograph in 1953. This artwork is a striking example of Escher's ability to manipulate space and create impossible worlds. In "Relativity," Escher constructs an architectural environment that defies the conventional rules of gravity. The scene depicts three different gravitational orientations, each with its own inhabitants, who coexist in the same space but interact with their environment in seemingly impossible ways. The figures in "Relativity" navigate a labyrinth of staircases and arches, each existing in its gravitational plane, unaffected by the orientation of the others.
The composition of "Relativity" is a masterpiece of perspective and illusion. Escher employs multiple vanishing points, creating an optical illusion where different planes of gravity intersect seamlessly. The viewer's eye is drawn across the artwork, following the figures as they move in ways that appear logical within their own context but contradictory when seen as a whole. This paradoxical representation challenges viewers to question their perceptions and consider alternative realities.
"Relativity" reflects Escher's interest in exploring the boundaries of perception and reality. The piece is often interpreted as a commentary on the relativity of perspective, suggesting that reality may be more subjective and multifaceted than it appears. The artwork's popularity lies in its ability to intrigue and perplex, inviting viewers to engage with its complexity and find new meanings each time they look at it.