Trademark Welder (September 1935) 1935

M. C. Escher made this print in September 1935, presumably using a woodcut or engraving technique. It's all about lines, hatching and cross-hatching, creating a world in black and white. The way Escher uses these lines is pretty intense. They build up to create these deep, dark shadows, and then thin out to give us highlights. Look at the I-beam: the lines are so dense, it feels heavy and solid. Then, notice how the lines change direction on the floor? That shift creates a sense of depth and space, even though it’s just black ink on white paper. It's an incredible feat of illusion. Escher reminds me a little of Piranesi, the way he builds these impossible spaces with such precision. But where Piranesi is all about grand architecture, Escher brings that same level of detail to more humble subjects, like this welder. Ultimately, it’s this combination of technical skill and imaginative vision that makes Escher so compelling.