Coast of Amalfi 1931

M.C. Escher made this wood engraving titled "Coast of Amalfi". The image presents a slice of Italian landscape, but it's the artist's manipulation of light and shadow that really grabs our attention. Escher made this in 1934 during a period when Italy was under Fascist rule. Was his choice of landscape art a deliberate retreat from the political turmoil of the time? Was he subtly commenting on the timeless beauty of Italy, contrasting it with the transient nature of political regimes? Escher was influenced by mathematical concepts, and we know that he had a keen interest in perspective and spatial relationships. "Coast of Amalfi" may well be a playful exploration of these ideas. To fully understand this artwork, we might delve into Escher's personal letters and diaries, or read contemporary accounts of the Italian art scene during the Fascist era. Art history thrives on such contextual investigations, revealing how social and institutional forces shape artistic expression.