M.C. Escher Artworks Ready for Online Acquisition

For a significant portion of his existence, M.C. Escher remained largely ignored by the art community. This neglect could be linked to the Dutch artist’s unique—albeit eccentric—style, deeply rooted in mathematics, optical illusions, geometry, and what are termed “impossible objects.” However, due to these same factors, he captivated a broad audience outside of art circles, a status that has established him as one of the most prominent graphic artists of the 20th century. Now, with the help of the Boston Public Library, anyone can delve into a multitude of Escher’s mesmerizing prints through an extensive online archive.

The digitized collection showcases Escher’s lithographs, each reflecting the world through a funhouse mirror-like lens. Every artwork vibrantly combines playfulness, distortion, and immersion, thereby necessitating a keen eye for full appreciation, urging us to view familiar environments from a fresh perspective.

Convex and Concave from 1955, for example, illustrates an odd, maze-like structure, navigated by a captivating assortment of figures. One individual precariously balances on a ladder, while another plays a trumpet from what looks like a flat window rather than a three-dimensional one. In this artwork, Escher reveals his enduring intrigue with perspective, twisting architectural norms with unconventional angles, embellishments, and intricacies.

Another key concept within Escher’s oeuvre was duality, frequently investigated through illusions. Day and Night is arguably one of his most famous pieces, portraying a flurry of both black and white geese flying in opposite directions. As they ascend into the sky, the geese usher in darkness and light, dividing the piece visually into two halves and reminding us of the contrast between various times of the day. Notably, as the gaze moves downward across the canvas, the geese gradually dissolve, merging into the fields below. This type of “blending” is a prevalent technique in Escher’s creations, leading to engaging and unforeseen designs that promote active—and ongoing—participation.

However, Escher did not solely concentrate on optical illusions or architectural perspective. He also crafted patterned pieces, such as Development I from 1937. In this artwork, Escher arranges a series of black and white lizards into a crisscrossing grid. Yet, as the pattern extends toward the edges of the canvas, shapes begin to blur and vanish, morphing into ordinary checkers. Regarding these recurring themes, the artist seems to favor animal representation, often revisiting fish, birds, or both.

Throughout his career, Escher executed around 450 lithographs, woodcuts, and wood engravings, along with over 2,000 drawings and sketches. Besides his role as a graphic artist, he illustrated books, designed carpets, banknotes, stamps, murals, and intarsia panels, among various other items. Since his passing in 1972, his body of work has achieved even broader acknowledgment, standing out as extraordinary accomplishments in “impossible” art.

Discover more of Escher’s creations through the Boston Public Library’s digital commonwealth collection.