Pentedattio, Calabria (January 1930) (1930) by M.C. Escher

Pentedattio, Calabria (January 1930) - M.C. Escher - 1930

Artwork Information

TitlePentedattio, Calabria (January 1930)
ArtistM.C. Escher
Date1930
Mediumwoodcut
Art MovementSurrealism

About Pentedattio, Calabria (January 1930)

The artwork titled “Pentedattilo, Calabria (January 1930)” is a woodcut created by the artist M.C. Escher in 1930. This piece is categorized within the Surrealism movement and belongs to the landscape genre. The medium utilized for this creation is a woodcut, which involves carving an image into the surface of a block of wood, with the ink being applied to the remaining raised areas.

The artwork portrays a striking landscape that seems to encapsulate both the majesty of nature and the presence of human habitation nestled within it. Dominating the composition is a towering mountain formation, its peaks rendered with sharp, jagged lines that convey a sense of imposing solidity and grandeur. In stark contrast, the village at the base of the mountain is composed of numerous little buildings clustered tightly together, their shapes and arrangements giving an impression of a delicate human footprint amidst the overwhelming forces of nature.

The technique of the woodcut is evident in the strong contrasts between the black and white areas, generating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect that adds depth and intensity to the scene. The sky above the mountain is filled with streaks, perhaps suggestive of rain or falling light, which lends a dynamic and somewhat foreboding atmosphere to the artwork. Meanwhile, the rugged terrain in the foreground provides a frame, guiding the viewer’s gaze toward the central subject of the mountain and village.

In executing this piece, Escher has masterfully captured the dual essence of the natural world—its beauty and its unyielding, sometimes harsh reality—as well as the human condition, characterized by its resilience and adaptability in the face of such an environment.

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