Pond 

Curator: Here we have "Pond," a print by M.C. Escher. Editor: My first thought is how blocky it feels, how the marks of the medium create these abstract patterns, making it hard to see, almost like code, yet evoking a deep pond, you know? Curator: Absolutely. Escher, who is celebrated for his exploration of impossible spaces and mathematical principles in art, creates a different atmosphere with this piece. "Pond" lacks his well-known tessellations, offering an uncharacteristically moody reflection on the natural world. Editor: It's like we're seeing him test the constraints and capabilities of his technique. The layering in this piece is interesting. Do you think there’s social commentary being suggested in this method? Curator: That's a fascinating point. His process may reflect Escher's interest in depicting the illusion of space using an essentially flat medium, a reflection, if you will, on human perception itself, within an evolving landscape—a key issue post WWI and WWII. Editor: It makes me think about mass production, each print bearing the evidence of labor. How was this imagery being consumed? Did it offer a means of escaping the rapidly shifting urban spaces for the middle classes of the time? Curator: It's an interesting question. During his time, and especially afterwards, his artwork grew in popularity within mathematical circles, which then extended out through counter-cultural audiences interested in exploring visual perception during the rise of psychology. Editor: I see this reflected in his methods and subjects; his woodcutting technique, almost violent—or direct—against the matrix and against natural form—creates the medium. Curator: The historical currents influenced and were influenced by his practice, creating, ultimately, a unique space for dialogue and for new artistic exploration. Editor: Ultimately, looking at Escher’s “Pond” brings out some fundamental questions about labor and the social and political currents of print-making in art. Curator: For me it raises complex questions regarding human perception, knowledge production, and our continuous attempts at representing the world around us.