Fishes in Waves 1963

M.C. Escher made this print, Fishes in Waves, without a date, using a monochrome palette of black ink on white paper. The rhythm of alternating fish and waves becomes an investigation into the relationship between figure and ground. Look at the interplay between the horizontal lines of the waves and the fish swimming against them. Notice how the artist creates a sense of depth and movement through the repetition and variation of shapes. Escher employs the simplest means to explore complex visual relationships. One of the things that interests me most is the subtle variations in the thickness of the lines, which give the image a tactile quality despite its graphic nature. It reminds me of the Op Art of Bridget Riley, although Escher’s work has a playfulness and humour all its own. Escher's art invites us to question our assumptions about perception, and to revel in the endless possibilities of visual representation.