Still Life with Spherical Mirror (1934) by M.C. Escher

Still Life with Spherical Mirror - M.C. Escher - 1934

Artwork Information

TitleStill Life with Spherical Mirror
ArtistM.C. Escher
Date1934
Art MovementSurrealism

About Still Life with Spherical Mirror

The artwork “Still Life with Spherical Mirror” was created by the renowned artist M.C. Escher in 1934. It is an exemplary piece within the Surrealism movement, categorized broadly under the genre of still life. The artistic rendition encapsulates the essence of Surrealism through its infusion of the real with the fantastic, challenging the observers’ perceptions and offering an intricate interplay of reflections and reality.

In the artwork, we see a carefully arranged composition that features a spherical mirror resting upon an open book. The reflective surface of the mirror presents a distorted yet recognizable view of the room in which the scene is set, including the looming appearance of the artist himself seated at a desk. The mirror’s curvature amplifies and warps the spatial dimensions of the room, creating a sense of depth and intriguing perspectives within the confined space of the canvas.

Alongside the mirror and the open book, there is a depiction of a bizarre wooden bird figure with a human-like head, perched elegantly on the book’s edge, seeming to observe its own reflection in the mirror. This figure adds an enigmatic and whimsical element characteristic of Escher’s work, enhancing the surreal quality of the scene. The meticulous rendering of light, shade, and texture contributes to the illusion of three-dimensionality and tangible presence, while the inverted landscape in the mirror provides a gateway into a parallel and perplexing world.

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