Catania, Sicily (November 1936) 1936

This is M.C. Escher’s “Catania, Sicily,” made in November 1936 using a woodcut. I imagine Escher, with his sharp tools, carefully carving away at the block of wood, his concentration intense as he translates the Sicilian landscape into stark black and white. Look at how the lines ripple across the water, reflecting the boats and buildings. You know, when I look at this, I can almost feel the cool evening air and hear the gentle lapping of the water against the hull of the boats. His technique is so precise, yet it evokes such a vivid sense of place. The image shows the influence of printmaking. It reminds me how printmakers work and reworking the same image. It's a conversation across time, a community. Artists influencing one another, bouncing ideas back and forth through their work. It's like we’re all in this big, messy studio together.