“Blocks of Basalt along the Sea,” created by the artist M.C. Escher in 1919, is a landscape artwork that forms part of the Surrealism art movement. The artwork presents a striking interplay between natural elements and geometric forms, rendered in a monochromatic palette.
In the foreground, one observes a series of meticulously depicted basalt blocks that appear to jut out in angular formations. The texture and alignment of these blocks create a stark contrast with the serene, horizontal lines of the sea in the background. These horizontal lines, formed through repetitive linear patterns, gradually extend towards the horizon, meeting a dense, vertical backdrop which may represent a dramatic sky or an abstract element. The artwork elegantly combines an element of the surreal with realistic natural forms, characteristic of Escher’s unique artistic vision.