Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers is Priceless Joy’s weekly writing prompt. Joy Pixley provided this week’s image:

The man is completely absorbed by his work. Bent over a sketch pad, he carefully adds details – shadows, contrasts, embellishments. Every so often, he pushes back from his “art” table, stands, bends forward and back at the waist, his prodigious beard almost sweeping the floor on his forward motions.

He props his stretch book up on a desk easel and walks backwards away from the work, skrinching his eyes. The wrinkles show then, the years of close work and sadness.

No quite satisfied, he wonders if he should begin again, or “fix” the visual plane issue.

“Maurits,” his wife calls, “time for lunch.”

He has his answer for the moment, and begins the descent from his attic perch to the main floor. For Escher, this house is life imitating art. {130}

“Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it’s in my basement… let me go upstairs and check.” M.C. Escher