The portrait, ‘Bond of Union’, by MC Escher, was created in 1956, and depicts Escher’s wife and himself. Their heads are joined together in the portrait, so as to represent that they were molded from the same clay. Two are staring at each other, while their heads seem to be peeling. The portrait is composed of the faces and ordered, molecular spheres along a black background.
The two figures seem to be peeling as an apple or orange does. The connected heads represent the union between them, while the peeling represents their impermanence on a larger scale. Upon first glance the two seem to be staring neutrally into each other’s eyes. However, the two were also lover’s. It may be instead that the two have grown accustomed to gazing at each other.
The two figures seem to be peeling as an apple or orange does. The connected heads represent the union between them, while the peeling represents their impermanence on a larger scale. Upon first glance the two seem to be staring neutrally into each other’s eyes. However, the two were also lover’s. It may be instead that the two have grown accustomed to gazing at each other.