Skull 1917

This is M.C. Escher’s Skull, a lithograph print on paper. There's something so somber about the way Escher used lithography to capture the skull; it’s all soft textures and subtle contrasts. I can imagine him working on the stone, gently building up the image in layers, almost caressing it. The skull emerges from the shadows, like a memory taking form. The dark areas almost feel like a solid, comforting embrace. And the use of beige is so unexpected, that it almost looks like the skull is lit by moonlight, or like it's been bleached by time. I can't help but think about how Escher, with his fascination for patterns and illusions, found beauty in a subject that is often associated with death. It's as if he's reminding us that even in darkness, there's a certain elegance and harmony. It echoes back to painters like Holbein, whilst pushing forward into something completely new.