Reptile (color test for unidentified print) 1968

This color test from 1968, by M.C. Escher, gives you a glimpse into his creative process, doesn't it? I imagine him, in his studio, trying out different reds and oranges for his print. It's like catching him in a moment of pure experimentation. Look at how the color is applied, almost like a sketch, and the notes scribbled on the side. He is problem-solving right on the surface. He's thinking about how the colors will layer, how they'll interact. This piece, even in its unfinished state, offers a different way of seeing Escher’s work, it is less about the final trick of the eye and more about the hands-on work. It shows us how one of the great pattern makers started his process. It reminds us that every artist is always learning, always playing.