tessellations & m. c. escher · escher's drawing of alhambra tiling. m. c. escher ......

TESSELLATIONSTESSELLATIONS& M. C. Escher& M. C. Escher& M. C. Escher& M. C. Escher

by Mrs. Heiserby Mrs. Heiser

What are Tessellations?What are Tessellations?The word 'tessera' in Latin The word 'tessera' in Latin means a small stone cube. means a small stone cube. They were used to make up They were used to make up 'tessellata' 'tessellata' -- the mosaic the mosaic pictures forming floors and pictures forming floors and tilings in Roman buildings tilings in Roman buildings Tessellations refers to pictures Tessellations refers to pictures Tessellations refers to pictures Tessellations refers to pictures or tiles, mostly in the form of or tiles, mostly in the form of animals and other life forms, animals and other life forms, which cover the surface of a which cover the surface of a plane in a symmetrical way plane in a symmetrical way without overlapping or leaving without overlapping or leaving gaps. gaps.

A Roman floor mosaic

The BeginningsThe BeginningsThe tilings in the Alhambra in The tilings in the Alhambra in Spain were laid out by the Moors Spain were laid out by the Moors in the 14th century. in the 14th century. Colored tiles forming patternsColored tiles forming patternsMany truly symmetrical. Many truly symmetrical. They are not tessellations but they They are not tessellations but they They are not tessellations but they They are not tessellations but they inspired young M.C Escher, who inspired young M.C Escher, who copied them into his notebooks copied them into his notebooks and later converted some into true and later converted some into true tessellations. tessellations. These tilings never included These tilings never included animals or plants. animals or plants. Escher’s tessellations hardly ever Escher’s tessellations hardly ever left them out! left them out! Escher's drawing of Alhambra

tiling.

M. C. EscherM. C. Escher

Escher Escher –– regarded as regarded as the 'Father' of modern the 'Father' of modern tessellations tessellations Famous for his Famous for his impossible depictions impossible depictions impossible depictions impossible depictions like like WaterfallWaterfallMaster of lino and Master of lino and wood cuts and wood cuts and produced many produced many superbly crafted superbly crafted landscapes as well. landscapes as well.

'Waterfall' - 1961

M. C. EscherM. C. EscherEscher was born in Escher was born in Leeuwarden in Holland on Leeuwarden in Holland on June 17th, 1898. June 17th, 1898. Youngest of 4 brothers. Youngest of 4 brothers. Referred to by his initials Referred to by his initials which stand for Maurits, which stand for Maurits, which stand for Maurits, which stand for Maurits, Cornelis. Cornelis. His family called him Mauk. His family called him Mauk. His father was a civil His father was a civil engineer. engineer. The family moved to The family moved to Arnhem where he grew up Arnhem where he grew up and went to high school. and went to high school.

'Self Portrait in Chair' - 1920


Self-Portrait


Escher produced '8 Escher produced '8 Heads' in 1922 Heads' in 1922 -- a hint of a hint of things to come. Turn the things to come. Turn the picture upsidepicture upside--down if all down if all the heads are not the heads are not the heads are not the heads are not apparent.apparent.He took a boat trip to He took a boat trip to Spain and went to the Spain and went to the Alhambra.Alhambra.There, he copied many of There, he copied many of the tiling patterns. the tiling patterns. '8 Heads' - 1922

The Alhambra Palace, Granada, The Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain, 12thSpain, 12th--13th Century13th Century

Reflective Symmetry noted in the lower tile patterns

Crystalline Structures & WallpaperCrystalline Structures & Wallpaper

Escher showed his brother Escher showed his brother some of his work.some of his work.The brother noted that it The brother noted that it was similar to crystalline was similar to crystalline structures he had seen in a structures he had seen in a paper he read.paper he read.structures he had seen in a structures he had seen in a paper he read.paper he read.The brother sent Professor The brother sent Professor George Pólya’s wallpaper George Pólya’s wallpaper designs from a Brussels designs from a Brussels library, saying that an artist library, saying that an artist could make use of this could make use of this knowledge.knowledge.

Pólya 17 Symmetries

Escher’s Last TessellationEscher’s Last Tessellation

His last tessellation His last tessellation was a solution to a was a solution to a puzzle sent to him by puzzle sent to him by Roger Penrose, the Roger Penrose, the mathematician. mathematician. mathematician. mathematician. Escher solved it and, Escher solved it and, true to form, changed true to form, changed the angular wood the angular wood blocks into rounded blocks into rounded 'ghosts'. 'ghosts'.

Penrose 'Ghosts' - 1971

China China Boy, Boy, 19361936

Tessellation by M. C. Escher

Squirrels, Squirrels, 19361936


Fish,Fish,19381938


Design for Wood Intarsia Panel for Design for Wood Intarsia Panel for Leiden Town Hall, 1940Leiden Town Hall, 1940

Tessellation Tessellation Tessellation Tessellation

transitions transitions

by M. C. by M. C.

EscherEscher

Horsemen, Horsemen, 19461946


4 Motifs, 4 Motifs, 19501950


Scarabs, Scarabs, 19531953


Fishes, 1958 Mural Fishes, 1958 Mural Tessellation mural by M. C. Escher Tessellation mural by M. C. Escher

Pegasus, Pegasus, 19591959


Birds, Birds, 19671967


Realism & Tessellations Combined Realism & Tessellations Combined

Sometimes, M. C. Sometimes, M. C. Escher would Escher would combine realism combine realism and tessellations.and tessellations.ReptilesReptiles is an is an example of this example of this combination.combination.

'Reptiles' - 1943

Metamorphosis I, 1937 Metamorphosis I, 1937

by M. C. Escher by M. C. Escher

Realism & Tessellation Combined Realism & Tessellation Combined

Cycle, 1938 Cycle, 1938

by M. C. Escher by M. C. Escher

Realism & Tessellation Realism & Tessellation Combined Combined

Day and Night, 1938 Day and Night, 1938 by M. C. Escher by M. C. Escher

Realism & Tessellation Combined Realism & Tessellation Combined

A Full LifeA Full Life

Escher died on March 27, 1972. Escher died on March 27, 1972. He had produced He had produced nn 448 woodcuts, linocuts and lithos and 448 woodcuts, linocuts and lithos and nn over 2,000 drawings. over 2,000 drawings. over 2,000 drawings. over 2,000 drawings.

Rhomboid possibilities - 1937 notebook M. C. Escher

Copyright Laws DisclaimerCopyright Laws DisclaimerCertain materials are included under the Fair Certain materials are included under the Fair Use Exemption of the U. S. Copyright Law and Use Exemption of the U. S. Copyright Law and are restricted from further use.are restricted from further use.This presentation with images and web links is This presentation with images and web links is for educational use only. for educational use only. for educational use only. for educational use only. The information contained in this presentation The information contained in this presentation is accurate to the best of my knowledge.is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

ü Some Clip Art images and sound file are from Microsoft Office XP and/or Microsoft Office Online.

üAs a resource, these websites were used: http://www.tessellations.org/http://library.thinkquest.org/16661/escher.htmlhttp://www.herakleidon-art.gr/

Mrs. HeiserMrs. HeiserCuster School DistrictCuster School DistrictArt Art PowerPoint PowerPoint

TESSELLATIONSTESSELLATIONS& M. C. Escher& M. C. Escher

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