M.C. Escher Meet the Artist...

Born in June 1898 Birthplace was Leeuwarden, Holland Died in March 1972 Maurtis Corneille Escher

Hand with Reflecting Sphere Lithograph 1935

His work continues to fascinate both young and old across a broad spectrum of interests Intricate repeating patterns, mathematically complex structures, spatial perspectives all require a “Second Look”. M.C. Escher

1938 / Woodcut Printed in black and gray from 2 blocks Negative and positive designs transforming into different objects are noted techniques of Escher’s work. Day and Night

Day & Night

Studied at Harlem’s School of Architecture and Ornamental Design. He mastered the techniques of graphic art after he left school in 1922. Escher continued to devote himself to studying graphic materials. M.C. Escher

Lithograph -- 1956 He was a man that was studied and greatly appreciated by respected mathematicians and scientist. Escher did not have any formal training in math or science M.C. Escher

Ascending & Descending

Escher composed ironic works, often visual riddles that play with the pictorially logical and the visually impossible M.C. Escher

Relativity Lithography -- 1953 Woodcut -- 1953

Escher was a humble man who considered himself neither an artist or mathematician. His works achieve their visual puzzles through his clever manipulation of positive and negative space. M.C. Escher

1961 Lithograph This drawing is connected in such a manner as to reproduce an impossibility. Waterfall

Waterfall

Sky & Water I Woodcut 1938 Escher draws the illusion in where the negative space becomes dominant and transforms into the new object M.C. Escher

Sky & Water I

Escher noted that although he lacked formal training in the exact sciences, he often found that he had more in common with mathematicians than with other artist. M.C. Escher

Reptiles Lithograph -- 1943

Mathematical concepts played a major role in Escher’s planning of many prints. His precise detailed prints and lithographs base their impossible pictures on the solid ground of perspective, but they have been design to fool the eye. M.C. Escher

Butterflies 1948 Ink & Watercolor Three colored butterflies flutter around, or is it six differently colored butterflies? Symmetry E70

Symmetry E70; Butterflies

1955 Lithograph This picture of a woodland pond is made up of three elements. Can you name all three? Three Worlds

1 - The autumn leaves which show the receding surface of the water 2 - the reflection of three trees in the background 3 - The fish in the foreground seen through the clear water

Drawing Hands One of Escher’s most recognized prints. No artist before or after Escher has to turn flat surfaces (drawings) into such spatial perplexities.

“Drawing Hands” Lithograph 1948

Graphic artist M.C. Escher is best known for his surrealistic compositions that give the viewer a sense of simultaneously looking at a scene from several different perspectives. M.C. Escher