Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher was a Dutch graphic artist, born 17th June 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He is popular for his mathematically inspired woodcuts, tapestry designs, murals, mezzotints and lithographs, although his primary line of work was as a printmaker. It was his teacher at the School of Architecture for Decorative Arts in Haarlem who encouraged Escher to shift his original aspirations of becoming an architect towards drawing and printmaking.
Hand with reflecting sphere, M.C. Escher, 1935.
Today I will be focusing on my personal favourite of his works, “Hand With Reflecting Sphere”, a lithograph produced in 1935. Although Escher is popular for his self-portraiture, in this bizarre and incredibly intriguing piece, Escher’s world is actually captured within the reflection of the sphere. The fact the object itself is a sphere directly helps lend itself to the curious nature of the art by distorting reality and challenging the viewer to question what is real and what isn’t. Why is this man sat in this room which appears to be a psychiatrist’s office by himself?
Escher stares directly at the viewer, who in turn assumes the role of Escher himself due to the positioning of the hand holding the sphere. It’s almost as though the observer is simultaneously the spectator and Escher himself, further bending the lines between reality and the piece. This piece also contains a striking amount of depth within a relatively small drawing space.
Perhaps the funniest and most peculiar part of this image is the fact that it can be directly compared to that of the phenomenon which plagues us today, the humble Selfie – an imagery technique which has the photographer capture their own image – even down to the outstretched arm. It’s crazy to think a Dutch born graphic artist, known for near impossible intricate tessellations produced a piece in 1935 which is comparable to the ways youth of today produce their social media images.
http://www.nga.gov/collection/gallery/ggescher/ggescher-47949.html
Dareon Hanlon 