M. C. EscherM. C. Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic one of the world's most famous graphic artists. artists.

What are the similarities?What are the similarities?

He is most famous for his He is most famous for his so-called impossible so-called impossible structures, such as structures, such as Ascending and Ascending and Descending, Relativity,Descending, Relativity, his his Transformation PrintsTransformation Prints, , such as such as Metamorphosis Metamorphosis series, Sky & Water series, Sky & Water oror ReptilesReptiles. .

CastrovalvaCastrovalva for example, for example, where one already can where one already can see Escher's fascination see Escher's fascination for high and low, close by for high and low, close by and far away. The and far away. The lithograph Atrani, a small lithograph Atrani, a small town on the Amalfi Coast town on the Amalfi Coast was made in 1931, but was made in 1931, but comes back for example, comes back for example, in his masterpiece in his masterpiece Metamorphosis I and II. Metamorphosis I and II.

M.C. Escher illustrated books, designed M.C. Escher illustrated books, designed tapestries, postage stamps and murals. tapestries, postage stamps and murals. Youngest son of a civil engineer. Youngest son of a civil engineer. After failing his high school exams, Maurits After failing his high school exams, Maurits ultimately was enrolled in the School for ultimately was enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts.Architecture and Decorative Arts.

After only one week, he informed his After only one week, he informed his father that he would rather study graphic father that he would rather study graphic art instead of architecture, as he had art instead of architecture, as he had shown his drawings and linoleum cuts to shown his drawings and linoleum cuts to his graphic arts teacher, who encouraged his graphic arts teacher, who encouraged him to continue with graphic arts. him to continue with graphic arts.

After finishing school, he After finishing school, he traveled extensively traveled extensively through Italy, where he through Italy, where he met his wife Jetta Umiker, met his wife Jetta Umiker, whom he married in whom he married in 1924. 1924. They settled in Rome, They settled in Rome, where they stayed until where they stayed until 1935.1935. During these 11 years, During these 11 years, Escher would travel each Escher would travel each year throughout Italy, year throughout Italy, drawing and sketching for drawing and sketching for the various prints he the various prints he would make when he would make when he returned home. returned home.

Many of these sketches Many of these sketches he would later use for he would later use for various other lithographs various other lithographs and/or woodcuts and and/or woodcuts and wood engravings, for wood engravings, for example the background example the background in the lithograph Waterfall in the lithograph Waterfall stems from his Italian stems from his Italian period, or the trees period, or the trees reflecting in the woodcut reflecting in the woodcut Puddle, which are the Puddle, which are the same trees Escher used same trees Escher used in his woodcut "Pineta of in his woodcut "Pineta of Calvi", which he made in Calvi", which he made in 1932 .1932 .

M.C. Escher became M.C. Escher became fascinated by the fascinated by the regular Division of the regular Division of the Plane, when he first Plane, when he first visited the Alhambra, a visited the Alhambra, a fourteen century fourteen century Moorish castle in Moorish castle in Granada, Spain in Granada, Spain in 1922.1922.

MetamorphosisMetamorphosis

He played with He played with architecture, perspective architecture, perspective and impossible spaces. His and impossible spaces. His art continues to amaze and art continues to amaze and wonder millions of people wonder millions of people all over the worldall over the world