Nocturnal Rome 1934

M.C. Escher made this image, Nocturnal Rome, in black and white and probably with a woodcutting tool of some kind. You can see the way he uses the tool marks to suggest light and shadow, as a real process. There's this beautiful contrast between the solid black areas and the fine white lines that create the image. Look at how the lines change direction to define the shape of the statue, and how he carves the building. Those lines running across the top? They feel like they're not just describing the night sky but also creating a mood. It’s that feeling that the night sky is oppressive or even a little scary. I think what Escher does so well here is create an image that is both realistic and surreal. He takes these familiar architectural elements and places them in a world that feels like it could be real, but with a twist. It reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings, those fantastical architectural spaces. Both artists share this fascination with space, with the possibility of imagining new worlds. And that's what art is all about, right? Imagining.