Flor de Pascua - Whore's Superstition 1921

Editor: We’re looking at M.C. Escher’s 1921 graphic art piece, "Flor de Pascua - Whore's Superstition." It’s a stark, black and white print, very geometric and abstract. The contrast is so bold! What historical factors might have influenced the title? Curator: The provocative title invites a closer look at the social context. Escher was a young artist then. He later became famous for mathematical prints, but here we see him engaging with contemporary societal anxieties. How might this print have been received at the time, given the prevailing moral and social norms? Editor: Given the title, maybe as a challenge? A rebellion? But I’m curious why he used abstraction in discussing these themes. It's not overtly representational. Curator: The abstraction serves to depersonalize and universalize the theme, perhaps shielding it from direct censorship while sparking discussion. Think about the role of printmaking itself at that time: Was it a democratizing medium? How might that influence who got to see this art and participate in debates about morality? Editor: So it wasn't just about the subject matter but also the distribution channel? I hadn't thought of that. Curator: Precisely! Also, consider that early 20th-century printmaking was frequently connected to social movements, with prints made available to all citizens rather than elites, suggesting there was a populist goal in the production of art, which may explain the radical choice of theme, and its depiction. Editor: I'm starting to see how both the subject matter and the way it was shown speak to broader societal currents and artistic access. Curator: Indeed. Analyzing its initial impact helps us understand Escher's evolution, and the enduring relationship between art and its socio-political moment. Editor: This helps me appreciate the power and subversive nature of graphic arts in an era when images were not as readily accessible as they are today. Thanks for showing how to connect the work to its environment.