Earth
From the Suite “The Four Elements”
(B.382) 1953 Color Woodcut with Letterpress

Escher created the "Four Elements" suite for the noted connoisseurs and patrons, Eugène and Willy Strens. Escher chose as his subjects the ancient elements of earth, air, fire and water; the building blocks of all creation. Each print in the series not only represents a creature from that element, but also is designed with a structure evocative of that force. Here, ants vibrate with the energy of a swarm, and the print jiggles with electricity.1953 Woodcut from "The Four Elements," illustrated is the rare color variant. Other individual prints from this series are occasionally available.

M. C. Escher's working drawing for this print is reproduced below