Seated Old Woman 1920

M.C. Escher made this woodcut, Seated Old Woman, using knives and gouges to carve into a block of wood. Look closely, and you can see how the stark contrast of black and white creates a compelling image with an incredible sense of depth and texture. The linear marks are so specific. Notice how each line seems to describe not just the form but also the play of light and shadow. It’s especially evident in the shawl draped over her shoulders, a web of tiny squares playing against the long lines of her skirt. Those lines are alive; they aren’t just marks but convey the feeling of fabric, the way it folds and drapes. The details in her face, etched with lines, tell a story of time and experience. I am reminded of the woodcuts of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner who was similarly fascinated with this medium. Like many artists, Escher shows how a commitment to a certain medium becomes a conversation across time, a back-and-forth of ideas about form, light, and the human condition.