description Tower of Babel Overview
Tower of Babel is a 1928 woodcut by the Dutch artist M.C. Escher, based on the biblical account of the tower built by humanity in the Book of Genesis. Escher presents the structure from a steep elevated viewpoint, using a sharply organized composition to stress its scale and vertical repetition. The work is relevant to the study of Escher's early graphic art and his treatment of perspective, architecture, and religious subjects.
help Tower of Babel FAQ
What biblical story inspired M.C. Escher's Tower of Babel?
The woodcut is based on the account in Genesis 11, where humanity builds a tower and God confuses the builders' language. Escher uses the story as a framework for a sharply organized architectural composition.
When did Escher make Tower of Babel?
M.C. Escher made the woodcut in 1928. The steep elevated viewpoint emphasizes the structure's scale and the smallness of the people working on it.
How does Escher's Tower of Babel differ from Pieter Bruegel the Elder's version?
Escher's 1928 woodcut uses a severe elevated viewpoint and strong geometric organization. Bruegel's well-known 1563 paintings use oil paint and present the tower with a denser narrative landscape and more detailed human activity.
Why does Escher show the tower from such a high viewpoint?
The elevated angle lets the viewer look across the construction and judge its enormous vertical scale. It also makes the workers appear subordinate to the structure they are trying to build.
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