Snakes (M. C. Escher)

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Snakes

M. C. Escher, 1969

woodcut, 49.8 × 44.7 cm

Snakes is a woodcut print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher which was first printed in July, 1969.

It depicts a disc made up of interlocking circles which grow progressively smaller towards the center. There are three snakes laced through the edge of the disc.

Snakes has rotational symmetry of order 3, comprising a single wedge-shaped image which is repeated three times in a circle. The image is printed in three colours: green, brown and black. This means that it was printed from three blocks which were rotated on a pin to make three impressions each. Close inspection reveals the central mark left by the pin.

This was Escher’s last print.

[edit] External link

• An animation based on Escher's print

[edit] See also

• M. C. Escher
• Woodcut
• Printmaking

[edit] Sources

• Locher, J.L. (2000). The Magic of M. C. Escher. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN 0-8109-6720-0.