Birds 1926

M.C. Escher made this print called Birds, using a woodcut. The contrast of black and white is so striking, but it’s really the intricate patterns that catch my eye. There’s a rhythm to the way Escher repeats shapes, especially in the feathers. You can almost feel the texture of the wood, the way the knife carves out each shape, leaving a raised surface that holds the ink. Look at the body of the large bird. It’s made up of these little dots, like a field of tiny pebbles. Then, zoom out and you realize it’s all part of this grand design. That’s Escher for you, always playing with scale and perspective. You can see the influence of artists like Albrecht Dürer, who also embraced the graphic possibilities of woodcut. Escher takes those lessons and runs with them, creating his own unique visual language. It's a reminder that art is always in conversation, with each artist building on the ideas of those who came before.