House of Stairs 1951

M.C. Escher made this print, House of Stairs, with lithographic ink on paper. The crisp lines and tonal gradations give the whole image a sort of mechanical, reproducible feel, which is part of the concept, I think. Look at the creatures; they’re like robot insects, climbing endlessly. Each little mark seems deliberately placed, like the hatching and cross-hatching, which builds depth and volume in this impossible space. See how the walls and stairs are textured with these fine lines? They create a sense of depth that tricks the eye. Escher was obsessed with mathematical patterns and spatial illusions. It makes me think of Bridget Riley's Op Art, which also messes with perception. Both artists make you question what you're seeing, but Escher adds a layer of narrative strangeness. Are these creatures prisoners or pioneers, builders or destroyers? It's all wonderfully ambiguous, like the best art should be.