M c escher wikipedia

1930

Castrovalva

This image is part of the body of work that Escher produced in Italy from 1923 to 1935. The town is mirrored precisely on both sides of the picture but presented in daylight on the left and nighttime on the right.

Whilst Castrovalva is approached with realism Escher also created images in this period which were more fantastical such as The Bridge (1930) which incorporates realistic architectural elements into an imaginary framework.

Lithograph - National Gallery of Canada

1935

Hand with Reflecting Sphere

One of the last paintings from his Italian period, this lithograph depicts Escher sitting in his studio in Rome, reflected in a mirrored sphere which is held in one of his hands.

Of these works Escher stated, "I can't keep from fooling around with irrefutable certainties" and to 'make fun of gravity'. During these 11 years M.C. Escher travels every year through Italy where he makes drawings and sketches that he later uses in his studio for his lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings.

For example, the background in the lithograph Waterfall (1961) comes from his Italian period.

His work at this period included monochrome landscapes, natural forms, and intricate architectural studies. This created a demand for his work in the United States which he struggled to meet, raising his prices repeatedly in an attempt to slow down sales. His work had an impact on the development of Op Art, but he rejected any association with the movement stating that "there are young people who constantly come to tell me: you, too, are making Op Art.

I haven't the slightest idea what that is, Op Art. I've been doing this work for thirty years now".

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

By 1929, his work had grown in popularity and demand and he had held a number of exhibitions in Holland and Switzerland. Apart from being used in a variety of technical papers, his work has appeared on the covers of many books and albums. His art is admired by millions of people worldwide, as can be seen by the many websites on the internet.

He is born in Leeuwarden as the fourth and youngest son.

These figures may be interpreted, from a philosophical standpoint, as co-inhabiting different planes of existence and the piece calls into questions the nature of reality.

Lithograph - Cornelius Van S. Roosevelt Collection

1960

Ascending and Descending

Ascending and Descending is one of Escher's most recognizable pieces and another example from his 'impossible constructions' series.

Light from the window at the far end of the room highlights the furniture behind Escher and casts a shadow across his face creating depth within the portrait.

He is most famous for his 'impossible constructions', images which utilize mathematical shapes, architecture, and perspective to create a visual enigma, but he also produced subtle and original work drawing inspiration from the Italian landscape. The short-belted tunics are Medieval in style and can be seen as a reference to the work of Hieronymus Bosch which Escher consciously alluded to in other pieces such as Belvedere (1958).

Lithograph

1969

Snakes

Snakes was created three years before Escher's death when he was already suffering from poor health, and it is the last print he made.

The work encompasses a wide field of vision from high to low and near to far and this gives the piece multiple points of focus from the carefully rendered plants in the foreground to the sheer sides of the buildings to the distant mountains silhouetted at the end of the valley. This was sent to Escher who created Ascending and Descending as a response.

Although finding mainstream popularity, Escher remained sober and meticulous in his work and was reluctant to become a celebrity. He briefly studied architecture, but he failed a number of subjects (due partly to a persistent skin infection) and switched to decorative arts, studying under the graphic artist Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita.

In 1922, an important year of his life, Escher traveled through Italy, visiting Florence, San Gimignano, Volterra, Siena, and Ravello.