U - TOPIE Construction
The two figures on the right show clearly how “U-Topie’s” stair was created. On the left is a perfectly legitimate stair where the lower path passes beneath the upper path. By illegally connecting these two paths the illusion is obtained.
M.C. Escher’s “Ascending and Descending” (c) 2009 The M.C. Escher Company - the Netherlands. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.mcescher.com
Ascending and Descending
By M C Escher
“U-Topie” is quite unashamedly based on this famous image by M. C. Escher and uses a variation of the same Penrose Staircase construction shown on the right, although I have treated the steps differently and added a couple of twist and turns.
M. C. Escher’s “Ascending and Descending” was based upon the Penrose Staircase shown here on the right. This was devised by Sir Roger Penrose in the nineteen fifties. Penrose visited Escher in the Netherlands and they corresponded for many years. Escher is said to have presented Penrose with an original print of his engraving.
CAMBIGUITIES is the official site of illusion creator David Macdonald. All images strictly copyright of the artist.