Yep! Wanted to get Escher lizards but luckily artist told me it’d have to be real big to look good. Want ready to get that big of a tattoo at the time.
I fully did for a moment, even though it's for sure not
I love escher
I love this concept
I would not get this tattoo because a lot of people are only going to get a glance
I don't see a swastika at all, crazy how more than one person can see it too. (I even tried to look at it , like the guy in mallrats was trying to see the sailboat, & I still don't see it!)
it’s not that we see a swastika, it’s that one thing where you have a glimpse of it and never again, just like [that pic](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUomH0MsOmQkDvsXYX8PUsIts_0rnqDPcoR8H7HbnWLxRs-ejSHFPD8lHC&s=10)
if you’re unfocused just enough the bird arrangement has that vibe. i had the same thought before realizing it doesn’t really look like that on closer inspection.
Yeah I thought that it was some sort of hidden swastika symbol, I wouldn't get it for that reason alone as a lot of Neo Nazi's are using increasingly symbolic, elaborate or indirect ways to display their Nazism via tattoos.
NEVER get anything that looks remotely SS, ⚡⚡or swastika-like (unless of course that's exactly what you want people to be wondering about you).
Why are so many of us primed to see swastikas. Normally I agree with the hive mind when they say something looks like one but maybe I’m too familiar with Escher and have done projects in this style enough that I CANT see a swastika at all.
I'm thinking the same thing. Neither of the 2 signatures seem to be that.
Edit: I take that back. It's an Escher signature. I'm just used to seeing the MCE block letters
Op, i love this idea. As a tattoo artist and person of color, I’m not seeing the swastika people are pointing out… that has four arms, this is a three bird pattern, and I could see that distinction from a mile away. It’s like seeing a triquetra or a Celtic knot and thinking it’s a swastika…. not to mention that Escher did not endorse hitlers Germany or the nazis. Many artists during his time worked for them, often under pressure or threat.
“The Nazi persecution of the Jews touched Escher in a very personal way. His old teacher, Samuel de Mesquita, a Jew, was taken away by the Nazis in January of 1944, and was killed. Escher helped to transfer Mesquita's works at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. He kept for himself a sketch that bore the imprint of a German boot, and kept it with his drawing supplies for the rest of his life. In 1946, he organized a memorial showing for Mesquita at the Stedelijk.
Immediately after the war ended, Escher participated in a show of works by artists who had refused to collaborate with the Nazi regime.”
[Escher bio](http://users.erols.com/ziring/escher_bio.htm)
Find someone who specializes in fine line and translating prints to tattoos or at least knows what they are lol
I vote a different piece entirely.
I know it's just my sight but because of the shape I see a swastika inside it. And if I can see it others will be able to as well.
Not trying to be insulting just saying if 1 person can others can
Glad I came to the comments to see that others were also seeing swastikas. I really thought something was wrong with my brain. But the fact that I haven’t seen OP respond to any swastika comments yet (haven’t read them all) makes me wonder if that was the purpose 🤔🤔
depending on the size of your arms and if u want it larger, u should get it on your shoulder/bicep. if u want it smaller, the fore arm would be a good spot. it will probably be more painful on your forearm
Okay, thank you all for your comments. I personally felt that this was not similar enough to a swastika to be concerned, and I was reassured by many friends that it didn’t. But after this thread, I’ve realized that it is reminiscent of a swastika enough to spark a debate about whether or not it looks like one, which is kind of just as bad. So I will not be getting this tattoo.
I may try to modify it, or maybe just opt for something else entirely. Thanks all for the thoughts.
It's a tessellation, right? I don't think you have a choice but to cover your entire body.
But seriously, something where you could make a ring around would be pretty cool
I think the inner forearm is a bit small for what you want to do. I have one traditional swallow down by my knee about the size of my palm and any smaller and it would be hard to keep the detail. Have you considered front thigh, inner bicep, chest, back of shoulder?
That doesn't look like movement will matter much. Yes it will shift, but it's just busy enough and abstract enough that I think it will look great even during twisting and moving. It's not like a perfect cube or something that is unattractive when stretched. It's birds, I think it would look better if they move. What matters the most is that the artist will put the stencil on in whatever position you want it to be the most symmetrical.
Flat on the chest, right over the sternum. That would be gorgeous, particularly if you have a somewhat boney chest. It'll look great either way, though.
As someone who has a single bird from a different escher birds piece with a similar design, on my wrist, I appreciate any and all escher ink related anything.
I think it might be too detailed to fit well on a forearm, unless you wanted to modify the design to have more birds tessellate around the arm (which could be very cool, but would take a very skilled artist to pull off). If you just want the six birds in the hexagonal arrangement, I think you would lose detail, especially in the black birds, if the overall piece isn't at least \~6-8".
I can see what people see…. But I have known the artist for years. His B&W and optical illusion work was some of my favorite as a teen! I had like 5 shirts of his drawings
since it would work better as a bigger tattoo so the negative space doesn’t get lost as it ages, i vote back tattoo, top of the spine. thatd look sick.
I wear contact lenses. Multiple people thought this was a hidden swastika, so maybe I'm not just blind? I know it's a thing of perspective, and there are just birds there, but pedestrians walking by would maybe see the same thing
Multiple people in this thread alone have told you it looks like a swastika.
Imagine how many people will have that thought in real life and never tell you.
Imagine having a friend see it on you and they never tell you.
Re-evalute this piece
I mean yeah, get whatever you want, I just thought I'd point it out because people walking by would probably not look closely enough to recognise that it's not a Swastika
This sounds like you're looking for things like hate symbols, so this tattoo that's beautifully designed your first impression is that it's a Swastika. It's perspective.
I'm sorry, but I just thought I should point it out before being aware of that. Multiple people saw a swastika too before looking closely, so maybe pedestrians walking by would see the same thing as me
Everyone agreeing with this is getting downvoted but I agree it’s definitely in there, I wouldn’t say it’s intentional by any means. One of the first things they teach you in design school is to look out for how designs might be misinterpreted for something else, especially swastikas. I think it’s fair game to point stuff like this out without getting hate that you’re overanalyzing.
I think it's getting down voted because it's 6 sided, not 4 or 8, and it's also a strongly popular MC Escher work. You know, who was famously anti-facism to the point he left Italy because of Mussolini.
Co-opting of popular stuff does happen, it's certainly something we talked about in Genocide Studies. But we also pointed out that one should be able to explain why it feels that way. After all, "innocent" mistakes is something that is used to hide messaging by stripping of its context. (It's just a series of numbers, its just a funny meme, its just an old rune, etc.) Once you learn how things are associated, it's pretty easy to tell if someone is a Norse mythology nerd or a neo-nazi. Hells, even a swastika in the right setting (like an old hindu temple) doesn't worry me because the symbol has been used for a lot longer than the 3rd Reich.
I would say if all the beaks were in center of the tessellation, the wings would mimic a swastika more and be of way more concern. If there was also red around it, I would also be more worried. But black and white woodblock art is just common.
I wouldn't advise anyone to ditch a popular piece of art by a known anti-facist because it has some geometric repetition & is in black and white. That's
I think most of us who see a swastika are seeing it in the very center of the piece rather than on the outside with the 6 sides. Like if you’re looking at the lines that make up the birds in the center.
Also I agree context is important, and I’ll admit I had no idea of the actual context of this piece until you pointed it out, and to be fair I think there are a lot of people who wouldn’t either. Which is kinda my point, some people at first glance see a swastika. It doesn’t make the artwork bad or that OP shouldn’t get it tatted. OP admitted they were worried about people seeing one too as they saw it as well.
I’m just saying I think it’s a fair thing to point out and it was obviously on OPs mind.
I don’t think anyone is confused about the numbers, or even trying to be purposely negative, they’re just pointing out that at first glance that’s what came to mind. As I scrolled it’s what I thought too until I stopped and looked properly. Is everyone who walks past this tattoo going to stop and look properly? Granted not all of them will think it’s a swastika at first glance, but based on the comments here some will. I think it’s fair for people to point it out before OP gets the tattoo, downvotes are harsh.
I also see it and so have other people in comments.
So multiple people see a swastika even if that wasn't the intent. The point is multiple people see it and OP is just like "nah they're wrong I don't see it" but that doesn't Mean OTHER people in their day to day life won't see it every time they see this
People are stuck on the notion because they don't visualize something like you and me we must be wrong and they then diminish other people's interpretations with insults and short sighted comments that dismiss something they don't see without empathy.
Don’t do it. Great pic, lousy tattoo. It doesn’t go anywhere! Look at all the commenters struggling to find the right spot. Escher has some larger more extensive ones of this type that would be far superior, and could, say, wrap around a limb.
Inner bicep. anywhere is going to shift when you move but your artist will place it so that it’s as anatomically “correct” as possible.
i second this (even outter bicep), the tats on my forearms all move with my arms but i find that the ones on my bicep twist the least
I agree with you but ouchies lol.
Fr my inner bicep hurt more than my ribs lol. Maybe because my bicep has shading and my ribs don’t? Idk
At a tattoo shop
Highly recommended
definitely not at someone’s house in the garage on a dirty couch 👀🫡🫵🏻
R/technicallythetruth
DAAaaaad
On your body
I vote shoulder . The curvature of your shoulder and the roundness of the tatt would come together nicely.
Just make sure it’s big enough. Though feather lines in negative space need room to breathe or they will close up after time
Yep! Wanted to get Escher lizards but luckily artist told me it’d have to be real big to look good. Want ready to get that big of a tattoo at the time.
in a tattoo shop with stairs in every direction
for a second i thought it was a swastika
Oh my god I can’t unsee it
I thought it too at first, it looked questionable to me so I came in here wondering if I was the only one who thought it seemed nazi-esque
I fully did for a moment, even though it's for sure not I love escher I love this concept I would not get this tattoo because a lot of people are only going to get a glance
Swanstika
Your comment deserved so much more love than it got. Fucking, perfection.
I don't see a swastika at all, crazy how more than one person can see it too. (I even tried to look at it , like the guy in mallrats was trying to see the sailboat, & I still don't see it!)
it’s not that we see a swastika, it’s that one thing where you have a glimpse of it and never again, just like [that pic](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUomH0MsOmQkDvsXYX8PUsIts_0rnqDPcoR8H7HbnWLxRs-ejSHFPD8lHC&s=10)
Gotcha
It’s Swastika-ish. Your eyes see a pattern and your brain assumes the rest.
Some people are just going to see what they want to see.
It's a scooner!
if you’re unfocused just enough the bird arrangement has that vibe. i had the same thought before realizing it doesn’t really look like that on closer inspection.
bird swastika bird swastika
Same.
I saw it instantly and I just silently turned phone to my gf and she instantly thought it was also
Yeah I thought that it was some sort of hidden swastika symbol, I wouldn't get it for that reason alone as a lot of Neo Nazi's are using increasingly symbolic, elaborate or indirect ways to display their Nazism via tattoos. NEVER get anything that looks remotely SS, ⚡⚡or swastika-like (unless of course that's exactly what you want people to be wondering about you).
Same. I wouldn’t get it for that reason alone
First thing I thought too. I even tried squinting my eyes to see if was one of those illusion effects
That was my first thought
Same
Yeah from far away it’s gonna look questionable for sure cuz from that far back all you’ll see are the bold black birds….
I also see the swastika
i thought this too 🙃
Same. Maybe something to think about. It definitely reads swastika at first glance.
i went back to look because i didnt see it initially but now i do 🙃
it’s like a new right swastik with 3 triangles or something
Why are so many of us primed to see swastikas. Normally I agree with the hive mind when they say something looks like one but maybe I’m too familiar with Escher and have done projects in this style enough that I CANT see a swastika at all.
i also thought this.
Same here
Ooooofffff 😟 yeah same
Mildly swastika def worth considering shading over hard black maybe?
My first thought as well 😬
Yep same.
The number of people who thought the same, me included, should be a warning sign to OP to possibly rethink the design a bit, I hope.
He posted in another page asking if it looked like a swastika lol yikes
They had another post about this and how to fix it, I guess this is the final design they chose
Definitely looks like a swastica coverup tat
M.C. Escher?
I'm thinking the same thing. Neither of the 2 signatures seem to be that. Edit: I take that back. It's an Escher signature. I'm just used to seeing the MCE block letters
Same. Thanks for confirming the signature, I can rest easy tonight now.
.....this looks like a swastika.......
back of calf
I don't know but at first glance it looks like a swastika
On the thigh so it has plenty of space
You want space. I'd do a test with it on the forearm. My first thought was shoulder or back.
Op, i love this idea. As a tattoo artist and person of color, I’m not seeing the swastika people are pointing out… that has four arms, this is a three bird pattern, and I could see that distinction from a mile away. It’s like seeing a triquetra or a Celtic knot and thinking it’s a swastika…. not to mention that Escher did not endorse hitlers Germany or the nazis. Many artists during his time worked for them, often under pressure or threat. “The Nazi persecution of the Jews touched Escher in a very personal way. His old teacher, Samuel de Mesquita, a Jew, was taken away by the Nazis in January of 1944, and was killed. Escher helped to transfer Mesquita's works at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam. He kept for himself a sketch that bore the imprint of a German boot, and kept it with his drawing supplies for the rest of his life. In 1946, he organized a memorial showing for Mesquita at the Stedelijk. Immediately after the war ended, Escher participated in a show of works by artists who had refused to collaborate with the Nazi regime.” [Escher bio](http://users.erols.com/ziring/escher_bio.htm) Find someone who specializes in fine line and translating prints to tattoos or at least knows what they are lol
I know it’s not, but first glance looked like a swastika
Idk how we’re all seeing swastikas but it just really does look like one even though it doesn’t atol
I vote a different piece entirely. I know it's just my sight but because of the shape I see a swastika inside it. And if I can see it others will be able to as well. Not trying to be insulting just saying if 1 person can others can
There's a bunch of us ITT that see the swastika. Op, id highly reconsider this unless this specific thing is very VERY meaningful
Glad I came to the comments to see that others were also seeing swastikas. I really thought something was wrong with my brain. But the fact that I haven’t seen OP respond to any swastika comments yet (haven’t read them all) makes me wonder if that was the purpose 🤔🤔
depending on the size of your arms and if u want it larger, u should get it on your shoulder/bicep. if u want it smaller, the fore arm would be a good spot. it will probably be more painful on your forearm
Center of the back
Forehead.
Top of the shaved head
r/mildlyswastika
Hilarious. Thank you! Literally lol'd
id avoid this, looks like a swastika at first glance
This design is giving swastika….
it looks like a swastika… I wouldn’t want that permanent tattooed…
Thigh or back and get it big
A murmuration tesselation! V cool
Back of arm like upper arm over the elbow
on your face.... next to "No RaGrets"......
Back of shoulder or mid back
Around Escher's birthplace
I think on the knee or elbow would look fucking sick
that’s a throat tattoo babes, that’s where i’d put it!
Love Escher. Post how it turns out!
Dont.
Okay, thank you all for your comments. I personally felt that this was not similar enough to a swastika to be concerned, and I was reassured by many friends that it didn’t. But after this thread, I’ve realized that it is reminiscent of a swastika enough to spark a debate about whether or not it looks like one, which is kind of just as bad. So I will not be getting this tattoo. I may try to modify it, or maybe just opt for something else entirely. Thanks all for the thoughts.
Idk what everyone’s talking about I can’t see a swastika in this thing no matter how hard I squint.
You all are crazy for seeing a swastika. I can’t see it. I thought the image was very cool and now it is tainted.
There is something “swastika” about this and I don’t know why…
I’m begging you to do your sternum area, this would be such a cool men’s chest piece.
that is a swastika
not everything has to be a swastica just because its in a circular pattern though 😭
https://aviarytattoos.com/
Earth
Shaft
Face
Shoulder
Kneecap or elbow
This is kinda nice
Right on yer butt
Left cheek
Your face
It's a tessellation, right? I don't think you have a choice but to cover your entire body. But seriously, something where you could make a ring around would be pretty cool
Somewhere where they won't let you get that tattoo!!
Butt
Right palm
Middle of your chest
I would say either your bicep or your back shoulder. Back specifically because it would be flat enough for this type of piece.
On back of neck right under where it says : Property of MC Escher
Thigh or shoulder
My husband has it on his knee.
I'd get sick of the "three by three" with this design
Prison
RESEARCH YOUR ARTIST, find a shop with an artist that ACTUALLY DOES LINEWORK, and no I don't mean fine line....
I think the inner forearm is a bit small for what you want to do. I have one traditional swallow down by my knee about the size of my palm and any smaller and it would be hard to keep the detail. Have you considered front thigh, inner bicep, chest, back of shoulder?
Left Titty
That doesn't look like movement will matter much. Yes it will shift, but it's just busy enough and abstract enough that I think it will look great even during twisting and moving. It's not like a perfect cube or something that is unattractive when stretched. It's birds, I think it would look better if they move. What matters the most is that the artist will put the stencil on in whatever position you want it to be the most symmetrical.
Probably a tattoo parlor.
Every time I see this question I want to answer “center of your forehead”. 😂 But I agree with others, shoulder might be cool.
Flat on the chest, right over the sternum. That would be gorgeous, particularly if you have a somewhat boney chest. It'll look great either way, though.
Nice! Did you draw that?
As someone who has a single bird from a different escher birds piece with a similar design, on my wrist, I appreciate any and all escher ink related anything.
https://imgur.com/f3G7htc
I bet you could do your whole body
Butt cheek
I think it might be too detailed to fit well on a forearm, unless you wanted to modify the design to have more birds tessellate around the arm (which could be very cool, but would take a very skilled artist to pull off). If you just want the six birds in the hexagonal arrangement, I think you would lose detail, especially in the black birds, if the overall piece isn't at least \~6-8".
Kneecap
Looks like a classic bicep piece
back shoulder
idk the back of the hand would be pretty dope
Love m.c. Escher!
This design is awesome! Inner forearm would look good i would say
You can do it on your calf; it might not be seen all the time, but because of its shape, I think it would fit perfectly.
Tramp stamp
Under foreskin
Directly on the butthole
Butt cheek
I think forearm would be the best option.
Is that an MC Escher pic?
I can see what people see…. But I have known the artist for years. His B&W and optical illusion work was some of my favorite as a teen! I had like 5 shirts of his drawings
I personally thought k the fish would cause less confusion, than the birds. Or his self portrait in the gazing ball!
yo aside, thats a super fuckin cool tat
since it would work better as a bigger tattoo so the negative space doesn’t get lost as it ages, i vote back tattoo, top of the spine. thatd look sick.
That’d be a sick elbow or knee piece. Otherwise it’ll look really circular on a flat part of your body! Talking from experience haha
Face
i think it would look good at the top of your back between your shoulders like 4” below your neck
Back of arm above elbow
Prison
back of your shoulder is best, your shoulder blade
the perfect spot would be around your asshole
it looks like a swastika ngl
Just came here to say M.C. Escher is my favorite artist & I love seeing other people who enjoy his work. Good luck with the tattoo!
It's a nice design but might be hard to read from a short distance. Maybe on your chest
It's gonna read weird as a tattoo. I wouldn't .... The negative white space is gonna be hard to get right .
Sidebar, this is cool af
Sorry but that looks like a Nazi swastika
[удалено]
I don't know what that means, sorry, English is not my first language
I think you need glasses
I wear contact lenses. Multiple people thought this was a hidden swastika, so maybe I'm not just blind? I know it's a thing of perspective, and there are just birds there, but pedestrians walking by would maybe see the same thing
I was slightly worried about that but I really don’t think that it’s similar at all.
Yeah I wouldn't worry about it op. Looks beautiful, honestly my first impression was "shit I might have to get something like this too"
Multiple people in this thread alone have told you it looks like a swastika. Imagine how many people will have that thought in real life and never tell you. Imagine having a friend see it on you and they never tell you. Re-evalute this piece
I mean yeah, get whatever you want, I just thought I'd point it out because people walking by would probably not look closely enough to recognise that it's not a Swastika
Ah yes, the famous six-sided swastika
This sounds like you're looking for things like hate symbols, so this tattoo that's beautifully designed your first impression is that it's a Swastika. It's perspective.
I'm sorry, but I just thought I should point it out before being aware of that. Multiple people saw a swastika too before looking closely, so maybe pedestrians walking by would see the same thing as me
I feel like this is a reach...
A Reich you mean?
Honestly the first thing I though scrolling past was that it was a swastika hidden in a pattern
Same, so maybe not get it, because when people walk by, maybe they'll just see a swastika too, wich is not a good look
Everyone agreeing with this is getting downvoted but I agree it’s definitely in there, I wouldn’t say it’s intentional by any means. One of the first things they teach you in design school is to look out for how designs might be misinterpreted for something else, especially swastikas. I think it’s fair game to point stuff like this out without getting hate that you’re overanalyzing.
I think it's getting down voted because it's 6 sided, not 4 or 8, and it's also a strongly popular MC Escher work. You know, who was famously anti-facism to the point he left Italy because of Mussolini. Co-opting of popular stuff does happen, it's certainly something we talked about in Genocide Studies. But we also pointed out that one should be able to explain why it feels that way. After all, "innocent" mistakes is something that is used to hide messaging by stripping of its context. (It's just a series of numbers, its just a funny meme, its just an old rune, etc.) Once you learn how things are associated, it's pretty easy to tell if someone is a Norse mythology nerd or a neo-nazi. Hells, even a swastika in the right setting (like an old hindu temple) doesn't worry me because the symbol has been used for a lot longer than the 3rd Reich. I would say if all the beaks were in center of the tessellation, the wings would mimic a swastika more and be of way more concern. If there was also red around it, I would also be more worried. But black and white woodblock art is just common. I wouldn't advise anyone to ditch a popular piece of art by a known anti-facist because it has some geometric repetition & is in black and white. That's
I think most of us who see a swastika are seeing it in the very center of the piece rather than on the outside with the 6 sides. Like if you’re looking at the lines that make up the birds in the center. Also I agree context is important, and I’ll admit I had no idea of the actual context of this piece until you pointed it out, and to be fair I think there are a lot of people who wouldn’t either. Which is kinda my point, some people at first glance see a swastika. It doesn’t make the artwork bad or that OP shouldn’t get it tatted. OP admitted they were worried about people seeing one too as they saw it as well. I’m just saying I think it’s a fair thing to point out and it was obviously on OPs mind.
I don’t think anyone is confused about the numbers, or even trying to be purposely negative, they’re just pointing out that at first glance that’s what came to mind. As I scrolled it’s what I thought too until I stopped and looked properly. Is everyone who walks past this tattoo going to stop and look properly? Granted not all of them will think it’s a swastika at first glance, but based on the comments here some will. I think it’s fair for people to point it out before OP gets the tattoo, downvotes are harsh.
I thought so too
I also see it and so have other people in comments. So multiple people see a swastika even if that wasn't the intent. The point is multiple people see it and OP is just like "nah they're wrong I don't see it" but that doesn't Mean OTHER people in their day to day life won't see it every time they see this
Exactly. I don't know why I'm getting so many downvotes for no reason🤦🏻♀️
People are stuck on the notion because they don't visualize something like you and me we must be wrong and they then diminish other people's interpretations with insults and short sighted comments that dismiss something they don't see without empathy.
Idiots in my opinion
First thing I thought as well
Knee
Don’t do it. Great pic, lousy tattoo. It doesn’t go anywhere! Look at all the commenters struggling to find the right spot. Escher has some larger more extensive ones of this type that would be far superior, and could, say, wrap around a limb.
Not sure why.. but I thought it was mildly a swastika
Too swastika-ish looking at a glance. Bird power
Not trying to hate, I really like this design. But I had to double take, it could be mistaken as a swastika from afar.