Birds 1926

M.C. Escher made this black and white woodcut, called 'Birds,' sometime during his lifetime. It's not quite painting, but there's a definite rhythm of cutting, printing, re-cutting, and re-printing. I can imagine Escher at his workbench, surrounded by his tools, meticulously carving away at the woodblock. Each cut is so precise, so intentional. The contrast between the black ink and white paper creates a really sharp and graphic feel. I'm fascinated by the way Escher repeats these intricate patterns across the birds' wings and bodies. The way each mark builds up to create the overall image. He was obsessed with tessellation and pattern, and here those obsessions play out with a playful and elegant touch. What I love about Escher is how he gets into this conversation with mathematics and geometry, but he does so in a way that feels totally embodied and intuitive.