Palizzi, Calabria (October 1930) 1930

M.C. Escher made this wood engraving, Palizzi, Calabria, in October 1930. It's all about contrasts, light and dark, the way the white ink sits on the black paper makes the village pop out like it's three-dimensional. Look closely, and you can almost feel the sharp, precise cuts he made into the woodblock. Each line has its own weight and direction, creating textures that mimic stone, foliage, and even the sky. The way he uses light and shadow is particularly striking, especially on the top right, where the contrast intensifies, almost overwhelming the architecture. Escher’s work always reminds me a little of Piranesi. Both artists play with perspective and architectural form, but while Piranesi overwhelms us with grandeur, Escher turns reality into a puzzle. Maybe that's why his prints continue to intrigue – he invites us to question what we see, pushing beyond representation.