Waterfall
Waterfall is one of Escher’s most iconic buildings. Escher corrected those who thought it was a perpetual waterfall, Escher said the miller “needs to add a bucketful of water from time to time to compensate for loss through evaporation.”
Like Ascending and Descending, this image is derived from the Penrose triangle.
Escher writes Waterfall “is composed of square beams which rest upon each other at right angles. If we follow the various parts of this construction one by one we are unable to discover any mistake in it. Yet it is an impossible whole because changes suddenly occur in the interpretation of distance between our eye and the object. This impossible triangle is fitted three times over into the picture. Falling water keeps a millwheel in motion and subsequently flows along a sloping channel between two towers, zigzagging down to the point where the waterfall begins again. The two towers are the same height and yet the one on the right a story lower than the one on the left.”
This original lithograph is signed and numbered by Escher. It is available. Please inquire for more information.
Image Size
15 x 11 1/2”
Year
1961