In Escher's drawing, it is not clear whether the water is flowing away form the viewer or towards the viewer. In many ways, it seems to contradict the laws of physics. Moreover, the corner points of the cube above the structure are connected in such a way that it is not clear which points are the farthest and which are the closest to the viewer. In these ways, the artist plays with our perception of depth.
This is to separate the migrant workers from the steady customers of diners who can pay for meals and products. For the people who own the diners and other small businesses along Route 66, the migrant workers are little more than a burden on them, asking these people, who are simply attempting to make a living, for handouts and charity. The men and women who work at the diners on Route 66 view the migrant families with a conflicting sense of loathing and compassion. Hope this answers your question!
