Sex and artistic analysis

Last updated 2018 10 06

Sex and artistic analysis — You may have an interest in odd things, but I don’t know whether you have an interest in odd art.

Escher’s art fascinated me since before I could read.  The front page of today’s Edmonton Journal carries an image that is an example of Escher’s art.

That image does not do complete justice to the relationship between mathematics and art that Escher’s art focuses on.

Here is a gallery of Escher’s art.

There is a specialized branch of such art, perspective street art, something that M.C. Escher never touched on.  A more specific designation of such art is anamorphic painting.  That is not a modern art form but goes back to the exploration of perspective in painting during the Early Renaissance, close to 500 years ago.

Main Entry: ana·mor·phic
Pronunciation: \?a-n?-?mo?r-fik\

Function: adjective

Etymology: New Latin anamorphosis distorted optical image

Date: circa 1925

: producing, relating to, or marked by intentional distortion (as by unequal magnification along perpendicular axes) of an image <an anamorphic lens>

(Source)

You see practical applications of that sort of distortion every time you drive on major thoroughfares: the direction arrows painted on the pavement for the turning lanes and for the through-lanes on the highway.  The objective of distorting arrows that are painted on the pavement in driving lanes is to make them appear properly proportioned when viewed from a secific perspective, such as that of a driver who is aproaching them.

Arrows seen from above

Arrows as seen when approached from a distance

It will be appreciated if anyone could point out examples of female artists who made inroads into the artistic exploration of the peculiarities of anamorphosis. It seems to me that, as a rule, just as in mathematics, here too, female genius glares by its absence throughout history.

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See also:

• Trends of the politics of sex
• Affirmative action and related issues
• Propaganda Tactics: Blurring of Definitions
• At math, girls are as good as boys!?