“Encounter” is a compelling artwork by the renowned Dutch artist M.C. Escher, created in 1944. Falling within the Op Art movement, this piece exemplifies the genre of tessellation, which is a distinctive feature of Escher’s oeuvre. The artwork presents a meticulous and spellbinding arrangement of shapes and figures that occupy the plane in a systematic pattern, highlighting Escher’s profound interest in mathematical precision and the exploration of infinite space.
The artwork showcases a series of interlocking figures in a black and white scheme, converging and diverging across the space in a rhythmic pattern. A central dividing line bifurcates the composition, with black chimeric creatures on one side and white figures that appear human on the other. The creatures seem to emerge from a shared boundary, transforming from abstract tessellated motifs into more distinct beings as they move away from the center line.
In this carefully composed encounter, Escher plays with the concept of duality, juxtaposing light against dark, and anthropomorphic forms against fantastical beings. This dichotomy brings to life a visual narrative that blurs the line between reality and illusion. The graduated transition from the creatures to the human-like figures across the artwork exemplifies Escher’s fascination with metamorphosis, a recurring theme in his art that challenges the viewer’s perception and invites contemplation on the nature of transformation and identity.