Elements of Art

For this assignment, MC Esher was an artist that came to mind as a good choice. His works stick out in my mind, and probably for a reason that a lot of others can relate to – I was constantly seeing his works in my childhood spaces, such as doctors’ offices, my teachers’ classrooms, and various other locations.

This particular piece is called, “Drawing Hands,” from 1948 (mcesher.com). It is a lithograph that was completed in Holland (aaronartprints.com). I think that, in this work, the optical texture is a very important aspect. Because it is a drawing of human hands, evolving from two dimensional to three dimensional, it doesn’t seem as though the drawings feeling would be conveyed nearly as well if the texture didn’t also express the change from two dimensional to three dimensional.

For the same reason, the continuous lines seem equally as important. Without the seamlessly flowing line work, we would not be able to follow the graduation as smoothly. I believe that the lines also mirror the graduation in their strength – while they’re a bit more thin while the hands are two dimensional, the lines seem much more strong once it reaches the three dimensional area.

Escher’s ability to play with two and three dimensional parts in the same drawing also calls attention to his ability to force perspective in this image.

All in all, I think that this piece is meant to be a statement about the potential to create held within our hands, just as much as it is supposed to be a piece that forces you to really look at it and get your own perspective on where the beginning and ending really are.

Works Cited

“Drawing Hands.” Drawing Hands by Escher, http://www.aaronartprints.org/escher-drawinghands.php.

Pixelday. “M.C. Escher.” M.C. Escher – Drawing Hands, http://www.mcescher.com/gallery/back-in-holland/drawing-hands/.