Whodunit Wednesday: M.C. Escher

He is still one of my favorite artists. M.C. Escher is well-known for his drawings that trick the eye. The detail in his drawings is what always drew me to his work. When I first came to the Netherlands, I got a subscription to the library so that I could check out his books and look through the pictures. Several of his paintings adorn the walls of buildings around the world. 

Maurits Cornelis Escher was born in 1898 in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands. Leeuwaarden is a part of Friesland, which in the past was its own country and people. But Escher’s family moved to Arnhem (much further south) when he was only 5 years old. He was considered a sickly child and did not do very well at school, although it was clear from early on that he was good at drawing. 

He went to a technical college and the Haarlem School of Architecture and decorative arts where he learned to make woodcuts. In his journeys in 1922 he traveled to Italy and Spain and was amazed at the intricate designs that he saw there. He started a family and lived in Italy until just before the war. In the end he ended up in Baarn, the Netherlands, where most of his work was done (although he had already been commissioned to design stamps for the Dutch Postal Service). 

His work is quite mathematical, which often means that conservative artists consider him less and artist and the general public loves his work. His technical ability is praised by all, but some cannot find themselves in his mathematical, symmetrical style. Perhaps Escher would say that they simply need to look deeper into the works. Some of his works tend to push into infinity.

You can find his work in The Hague, of course, but also in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and in Huis ten Bosch in Nagasaki, Japan. Have you ever seen his work? What do you think of it?

A different perspective

M.C. Escher, Belvedere, 1958

The last two days I have had a few conversations that have struck a chord. I have to admit that I have been struggling to see how to plan my days and activities because it has become very hard to plan anything. Every week there is a possibility of new rules and changing realities. 

Don’t get me wrong, in some ways things are busier than ever. We are meeting with more members than before corona in our mid-week study and are enjoying the studies together immensely. We have been looking at “Is Genesis History” and talking about the beauty and truth that we see in God’s amazing creation. As mentioned last time, the study on Thursday mornings in Luke has been exciting. It is always a thrill to see someone discover who Jesus is - even if we are only seeing it through a screen on the computer. And there have been many more conversations. 

I have also been recording songs with others so that these songs are available to more members of the church. I have even had the chance to sing with some folks elsewhere in Europe and with video's with people from around the world. (see our songs at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl3c31jfr3xUjLulb9OCHgg/playlists)

But when it comes to planning, I just get bogged down in my mind, basically thinking: “What does it matter. We can’t plan anything anyway.” But yesterday my best friend mentioned in his prayer (it is so good to be able to pray together even though we are thousands of miles and times zones apart) that these trying times are exactly the times God uses to do amazing new things. So I should be looking for, awaiting the amazing that always comes from God’s hand. 

And today someone else in a different conversation shared the same type of thought. Even though we cannot plan, we must look ahead and be prepared for the new realities. We need to look at these new challenges as new opportunities. People are still in need. Truth still needs to be told, The love and grace of God are still what the world needs - every day. 

So I will continue to struggle to look for how to use these weird, strange, frustrating amazing times. Pray for us. We are praying for you. We know that we are not alone - ever. Not only are we in this together as the body of Christ, it is almighty God, our King of kings who is leading us through each day. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.   1 Peter 5:6-11