Head of a Child 1916

Here's M.C. Escher's "Head of a Child," made with what looks like confident, dark lines. I can imagine Escher working on this, maybe as a study for his more famous, mind-bending works. The face is so simple, but the eyes have a real intensity, don't they? I wonder what Escher was thinking about when he made this; was it a specific child, or was he trying to get at some kind of universal idea of childhood? The hair is just scribbles, but they're so full of energy. It reminds me of how Philip Guston would use simple forms to suggest something much bigger. It's interesting to see Escher, someone known for such intricate work, making something so stripped down. It shows how even the most complex thinkers need to start with the basics, with a simple line, a feeling. Artists are always riffing off each other, across time, you know? Each work inspires the next, creating an ongoing dialogue of mark-making, expression and meaning.