The Human Hamster Wheel

When people look at Relativity, a 1953 picture by the Dutch artist M.C Escher, they are amazed at his skill of drawing great optical illusions. Even though it is in black and white, some parts of the drawing look as if they contain color because of the many shades of gray.

Numerous stairs form a big circle like a human hamster wheel. The surreal look of this picture gives it a dismal appearance and seems to be squeaking. A magnificent view of many people climbing up and down is just dreamlike. When studied in detail one realizes that the drawing defies our understanding of gravity – it is a fantasy. A science fiction roller coaster of stairways could be a modern name for this drawing. Relativity may appear somewhat terrifying to some people, but it is a complex optical illusion.