The artwork, titled “Scilla, Calabria (January 1931)”, was created by M.C. Escher in the year 1931. Executed in the medium of lithography, this piece belongs to the Surrealism art movement and falls within the landscape genre.
The artwork depicts the coastal town of Scilla in Calabria, ascending dramatically from the sea in a labyrinthine arrangement of tightly clustered buildings and rugged cliffs. An imposing fortress crowns the precipice, overseeing the serene waterfront where boats are gently moored. The winding roads and tiered structures demonstrate Escher’s intricate attention to detail and perspective, conveying a sense of vertiginous depth. The interplay of light and shadow enriches the lithograph, emphasizing the dramatic topography and the juxtaposition of natural and man-made elements.