The 1st Day of the Creation 1925

M.C. Escher made this black and white print, titled "The 1st Day of the Creation," and immediately, I think of process because that's what printmaking is, right? A layering of decisions and actions. Here, the hatching and cross-hatching create textures, and the stark contrast between black and white gives the piece its graphic punch. Look at the detail on the bird, each feather meticulously rendered. It’s like Escher's showing us the world coming into being, one careful mark at a time. The background rain or sky is also formed of very fine lines, contrasting with the looping, curving lines which form the land. The combination of these forms is what gives the piece its dynamism, and sense of motion. Escher's fascination with tessellations and impossible spaces reminds me a little of the architectural fantasies of Piranesi, but with a touch of the surreal. Ultimately, it's up to you to find your own meaning, though!