M.C. Escher's Fabulous Adventures
Kaley Elliott
M.C. Escher's Life
Born on June 17, 1898, Maurtis Cornelis Escher was the youngest of four in his family. He was born in Leenwarden, Netherlands. Growing up his father wanted him to become an architect, so in 1919 M.C. attended the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem. He briefly studied under the architect Vorrink until Samuel Jesserun de Mesquita gave a lecture in graphic techniques; that's when Mr. Escher left architecture for decorative arts. After school he moved to Italy where he saw the Moorish and Saracan elements; he thought it was a beautiful technique. These elements influenced his creations for years to come. In Ravello in 1924, M.C. met the daughter of a Swiss man, Jetta Umriker, whom he married later that year. Two years later they had their first son, George. For ten years M.C. traveled the Italian hillsides. In 1930 his artwork got recognized and sold. Maurtis Cornelis Escher died in 1972.
Dinosaur
M.C. Escher's Dinosaur tessellation
Lizard
Escher's Lizard tessellation that has the theme of infinity
Flower
M.C. Escher's flower tessellation
Transformations of Escher
M.C.'s Transformations and Themes
M.C. Escher preferred to use animate objects in his tessellations. Escher only added a new color to a design if he included a new image. He chose a medium that naturally expressed two motions of symmetry: reflection and translation. He had many themes among his work, but one of the most prominent was the theme of infinity. The theme of infinity was shown when Escher made a tessellation that was smaller in the center and larger on the outside. This theme was generally shown on a circular paper. Another theme was called image stories which involved images transforming from one state into another. M.C. Escher was very pyschological with his work.
Email: elliottkaley@yahoo.com
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