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In February 1950 Escher produced Contrast (Order and Chaos). Occupying centre stage in this print is a perfectly symmetrical spatial figure: an almost transparent stellated dodecahedron that has been merged with a glass sphere.
M.C. Escher, Tegenstelling (Orde en chaos), litho, februari 1950
The object is surrounded by a mishmash of broken and otherwise disorderly objects. The title is self-explanatory: the crystal represents order and discipline, whereas the objects around it symbolise chaos. With the benefit of hindsight, it seems like Escher was sensing something when he made this print. His fame began to soar in the 1950s. So too would the chaos that fame brought his way.
