Curl Up (Pedalternorotandomovens) - M.C. Escher

A 1951 lithograph by M.C. Escher depicting the fictional creature Pedalternorotandomovens, presented as a mock-scientific biological study.

M.C. Escher created this lithograph in 1951, presenting a fictional creature he named the Pedalternorotandomovens. The work functions as a mock-scientific study, complete with a detailed Dutch text describing the anatomy and locomotion of this invented animal. Escher depicts the creature in various stages of movement, from its extended walking posture to its tightly coiled, disc-like state. The creature possesses a segmented body, six legs with human-like feet, and stalked eyes that resemble a parrot's beak.

The visual composition balances the descriptive text with the illustrations, mimicking the layout of a biological catalogue or a natural history textbook. Escher uses precise, clean lines to define the creature's shell and limbs, providing a sense of physical weight despite the absurdity of the subject. The creature is shown navigating different terrains, demonstrating how it transitions between walking and rolling to achieve speed.

This piece demonstrates Escher's interest in the intersection of logic and imagination. By applying the rigour of scientific observation to a non-existent organism, he invites the viewer to consider the mechanics of movement and the nature of biological classification. The inclusion of the Latin-sounding name, Pedalternorotandomovens, further reinforces the parody of academic documentation. The lithograph remains a clear example of the artist's ability to blend technical precision with playful, conceptual invention. It is a study of form and function, rendered with the clarity and attention to detail characteristic of his mid-career output.