• A
Magically Appearing Portrait of Jules Verne on the Mysterious Island
(Etching
with reflective cylinder, 1983 - 50 x 70 cm)
This is considered by many to be Orosz’s masterpiece of hidden
anamorphosis, and it was his first attempt at using this technique for a
hidden portrait. It depicts a shipwreck scene in the frozen North based on
the novel “The Mysterious Island” by the famous 19th century French
science-fiction author Jules Verne. The portrait is visible only when you
look at the reflection on the cylinder when the latter is placed over the
moon.
• The
Well
(Etching with reflective
cylinder, 1998 - 58.5 x 45.8 cm)
This
hidden anamorphic portrait in homage to M. C. Escher is based on a
pictorial challenge originally given to Escher by his friend Bruno Ernst,
but left unresolved because of Escher’s rapidly failing health. The
challenge was to create a scene in which a mirror was placed to show the
surrounding areas otherwise hidden from view. With the encouragement of
Ernst, Orosz took up the problem and, imagining himself in the mind of
Escher, explored some ways in which Escher may have approached it.
The print
depicts the church at Atrani, visible only in a mirror strategically
placed in a tangled garden with a break in its wall. However, Orosz went
far beyond the original problem by creating the extra surprise of a hidden
portrait of Escher that is revealed when placed over the well. The use of
a curved mirror to portray Escher is particular appropriate, as Escher
used a spherical mirror in some of his best-known prints, most notably his
1925 self-portrait, “Hand With Reflecting Sphere.”
• Self-Portrait
of Escher in an Anamorphic Cylinder
(Etching
with reflective cylinder, 1998)
This anamorphic portrait was created for the Escher Centenary Congress
celebrations held in Italy. It is based on one that Escher created
himself.
• Greek
Column
(Etching with reflective
cylinder)
Play the movie to see a Greek column anamorphosis by Istvan Orosz.
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