Activity #5: Write About It!! Theme

In Rembrandt van Rijn’s “Abraham’s Sacrifice,” an ink drawing on paper completed in 1655, and M.C. Escher’s “Reptiles,” a 1943 lithograph, the artists make use of themes.

In “Abraham’s Sacrifice,” Rembrandt’s themes are story and history. Artists use stories and histories because they provide the artist with subject matter (62). The subject matter is the objects or events that the work depicts (36). In Rembrandt’s drawing, he uses emphasis to portray the subject matter by creating a contrast in value with his hatching and cross hatching techniques. The title of the piece, “Abraham’s Sacrifice,” along with the subject suggests that this is a piece of history and illustrates a unique event in the life of Abraham. Escher, however, does not use history and story as themes in his work. He uses other themes.

In “Reptiles,” Escher’s themes are invention and fantasy. They come from the minds of the artists. In Escher’s piece, one can tell that the themes are invention and fantasy by the subject. Lizards crawling out of a drawing and the merging back into it can only be created through one’s imagination. It is clear that Escher conjured this work from a fantasy.

Both artists use themes to portray the subject matter within their pieces. Although the themes are different, each piece is unique and intriguing in its own light.