The artwork entitled “Hand with Fir Cone,” created by M.C. Escher in 1921, is a notable piece within the Op Art movement. It is classified under the genre of illustration.
The artwork features a meticulously drawn hand, depicted in a vertical position, with fingers seemingly clasped around an unseen object, presumed to be a fir cone. The hand is encased in an area filled with straight, vertical lines in the background, creating a stark contrast against the adjacent sections composed of repetitious, meandering zigzag patterns. These patterns visually play with light and shadow, leading the eye across the artwork and inducing a captivating sense of movement and depth typical of Op Art. The black-and-white color scheme lends the piece a bold, graphic quality, further enhancing its visual intensity and the interplay between foreground and background.