Magic Mirror 1946

M.C. Escher made "Magic Mirror" using lithography. The approach to mark making here is so precise, it’s like he’s building a world, one careful line at a time. Look at how he uses the blacks and whites to create such depth. The spheres seem to hover on that tiled surface. The flying cats create a looping effect, as each creature morphs into a shadow of its former self. What does it all mean? I am reminded of the geometric patterning in the work of Hilma af Klint. Like her, Escher wasn’t just making pictures. He was conjuring up something beyond the everyday, embracing ambiguity and multiple interpretations to open up a space of imagination.