Castel Sant'Angelo 1934

M.C. Escher made this architectural study of the Castel Sant'Angelo using the linear technique of hatching to create tone and form. I can imagine him there with his drawing board, trying to figure out how to capture this massive cylindrical building. It's a tricky thing to do, and it makes me think about all the other artists who've tried to capture Rome's buildings through painting, drawing, and printmaking. It's a conversation across time and space. Each artist adding something new to the dialogue. I love how Escher used hatching, crossing tiny lines, to create a sense of depth and volume. But it's more than just technique. There’s something kind of obsessive about the way he lays down these lines. It's almost as if he's trying to build the Castel Sant'Angelo from scratch, one tiny mark at a time.