The artwork titled “Wild West” by M.C. Escher, created in 1920, is a woodcut that belongs to the Surrealism art movement. This genre painting measures 35.7 x 17.5 cm and depicts a scene with distinct visual elements characteristic of the artist’s style.
In this woodcut, Escher portrays a cinematic scene with an audience seated in rows, watching a movie. The composition uses high contrast with bold, dark lines and light areas that guide the viewer’s eye from the audience to the film being projected. The silhouettes of the audience members are rendered in a simplified, almost abstract manner, emphasizing the collective experience of viewing the film. The scene on the screen prominently features figures and elements typical of Wild West themes, indicating a connection to popular culture at the time. The rays emanating from the screen suggest both light and the immersive power of cinema, enveloping the audience in the depicted narrative. This artwork is a testament to Escher’s ability to merge realism with surreal elements, evoking a sense of shared experience and the captivating nature of storytelling through film.