“Waterfall” is a famous woodcut print by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher. The work was created in 1961 and is considered one of Escher’s most iconic and recognizable pieces.
The print depicts a seemingly impossible architecture with a waterfall that flows upward and through a gear system before cascading down into a pool below. The waterfall creates a hydroelectric power source which powers the gear system, creating a never-ending cycle of water flow. The architecture also features a bridge that leads to a small building, with stairs leading up and down in a continuous loop. The scene is surrounded by a lush forest, with trees and bushes growing both up and down.
“Waterfall” showcases Escher’s mastery of perspective, as well as his playful exploration of impossible constructions and the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. The piece has become one of Escher’s most beloved works and is widely recognized as a masterpiece of optical illusion and mathematical art.
Table of Contents
- How does Waterfall work?
- Versions of Waterfall
- Illusions like Waterfall
- Discovery of Waterfall
- References and Resources
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How does Waterfall by Escher work?
The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Waterfall” print are created through his use of mathematical principles and manipulation of perspective.
The central illusion in the piece is the waterfall appearing to flow upward and through a gear system before cascading down into a pool below.
This seemingly impossible flow is achieved by Escher’s use of two different perspectives in the same image.
The top half of the print shows a birds-eye view of the waterfall and gear system, while the bottom half shows a worm’s-eye view of the pool and surrounding landscape.
In the top half of the print, the waterfall is depicted flowing downward and into the gear system, which redirects the water back up and through the top of the gears before cascading downward again.
This creates a loop that makes the water appear to flow continuously and impossibly upward.
The interlocking gears also add to the illusion, as they suggest a mechanical movement that is driving the water’s flow.
The bottom half of the print shows the pool and surrounding landscape from a worm’s-eye view, which gives the impression that the water is actually flowing downward and into the pool.
This creates a seamless connection between the top and bottom halves of the print and reinforces the illusion of an impossible and cyclical flow of water.
Overall, Escher’s use of mathematical principles and perspective manipulation in “Waterfall” creates an intriguing optical illusion that has captivated audiences for decades.
Versions of Waterfall by Escher
The following are some alternate versions of Waterfall by Escher
Illusions like Waterfall by Escher
The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Waterfall” are primarily optical illusions and impossible constructions.
An optical illusion is a visual deception that occurs when the brain perceives something differently than it actually is. In “Waterfall,” the main optical illusion is the seemingly impossible flow of water upward and through a gear system, which appears to defy the laws of physics.
An impossible construction, also known as an impossible object, is a two-dimensional image that depicts a three-dimensional object that could not exist in the real world. “Waterfall” is an example of an impossible construction because it features a building, a bridge, and stairs that seem to lead up and down in a continuous loop, which is impossible in the physical world.
These illusions are created through Escher’s mastery of perspective and his manipulation of mathematical principles, such as the rules of perspective and the geometry of interlocking shapes. The result is a captivating and intriguing image that challenges the viewer’s perception and encourages a deeper engagement with the artwork.
Some related illusions include the following:
Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.
They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.
Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.
These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.
The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.
The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.
It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.
The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.
The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.
The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.
The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.
The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.
The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.
The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.
The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception
The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.
The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.
The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.
Creation of Waterfall by Escher
“Waterfall” is a famous woodcut print by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher. The work was created in 1961 and is considered one of Escher’s most iconic and recognizable pieces.
Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher was a Dutch graphic artist born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He was widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, as well as his use of tessellations, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles.
Escher’s works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. He created many famous prints and drawings, including “Relativity,” “Sky and Water I,” and “Day and Night,” all of which showcase his fascination with impossible constructions and the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.
Escher’s works have had a profound influence on mathematics, art, and popular culture, and continue to be widely recognized and celebrated today. He is considered one of the greatest graphic artists of the 20th century, and his works are prized by collectors and art enthusiasts all over the world.
M.C. Escher is widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, and his works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. Some of his most famous works include:
“Relativity” – A lithograph that depicts a world where gravity and direction are relative and interchangeable.
“Waterfall” – A woodcut print that features a seemingly impossible flow of water that cascades upward and through a gear system before falling back down into a pool.
“Sky and Water I” – A woodcut print that features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other.
“Day and Night” – A woodcut print that features a world where the boundary between day and night is fluid and interchangeable.
“Metamorphosis III” – A lithograph that features a series of interlocking shapes that seem to change and transform into one another.
“Hands Drawing Hands” – A lithograph that features a series of hands drawing hands, creating a never-ending cycle of creation.
These works, and many others by Escher, continue to captivate and inspire audiences with their intricate details, playful illusions, and mathematical elegance.
References and Resources
Check out our complete list of illusions.
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