Today — hands drawing hands arrived in my in box — M.C. Escher‘s lithograph from 1948. One of my favorite images. Ann Hogan, my art teacher at Bunnell High School described Escher as an illusionist who was able to transform a woodcut, pencil sketch or etching into a realistic world fooling the eye.
I had a hard time understanding how Escher created his work and I attempted to duplicate a version of the metamorphosis style with utter failure. Fooling the eye is a difficult task when honing your skills in the details. Add precise drawing, impossible perspective, and extreme light/dark values — every image becomes a mystery. With his many styles from highly realistic to evolving patterns, Escher managed to define his craft in such a way that is often copied but never truly duplicated.
Thanks to Juliano Barrotti for keeping the world of illusion fresh.
Image: ©E.C. Escher foundation and owners of the “M.C. Escher” © name.
