Metamorphosis III excerpt 3 1968

M.C. Escher made this print, Metamorphosis III, using lithography, a printmaking technique where ink is applied to a smooth surface. The geometric honeycomb pattern, all regimented and precise, is a starting point for what will unfold: an amazing transformation into bees, then into fish. How did Escher manage to turn bees into fish so seamlessly? I imagine him feeling like a magician, conjuring images from thin air, only to morph them into something completely unexpected. It is a testament to his imagination, his commitment to craft. Escher plays with positive and negative space and creates a dynamic tension that keeps our eyes moving across the composition. The black and white palette adds a graphic punch, while the repetitive nature of the tessellations creates a hypnotic rhythm. We recognize that artistic expression involves problem-solving, experimentation, and a constant give-and-take between intention and execution. There’s a lesson for all of us artists: keep experimenting, and who knows what crazy transformations will occur on the canvas.