M. C. Escher Research Paper
Floor… or Ceiling?
Maurits Cornelis Escher, typically called M.C. Escher, was an Dutch artist who created mathematically inspired art. He was born on June 17, 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Escher was of youngest of four sons and did not do well in school, he only did very well in drawing, carpentry, and music. He, in 1919, went to study at the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts, which was in Haarlem. He went under the architect Vorrink, but after listening to a lecture by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita about different graphic techniques, Escher realized that his talents were more on the decorative side of art rather that the architectural side. He then changed courses and switched to de Mesquite being his main teacher. In 1922, he …show more content…
I feel that the optical illusions he created in his pieces, is amazing to look at since it confuses your mind yet somehow still looks appealing to the eye. When you first glance at Escher's work you see fascinating buildings, birds and fish transforming themselves, and floors being ceilings and ceilings being floors. His work has, for years, fascinated mathematicians. One question asked is about how he can understand concepts, that are very complex, without any formal mathematics background. I am very intrigued, as well as shocked, that he had no background in math yet still managed to created such mathematical pieces of art. I find his artwork truly amazing since he was able to create pieces that combine both math and art, which is no easy feat. His artwork reminds me of a puzzle that I used to attempt to put together with my grandparents all the time. It was an optical illusion and also a tessellation, so at times it got very difficult to put together. Escher’s work reminded me greatly of that because they are both very similar in style with each other. Escher created beautiful pieces of artwork that confuse the mind, but are still very aesthetically appealing, where sometimes, a floor can be a
Maurits Cornelis Escher, typically called M.C. Escher, was an Dutch artist who created mathematically inspired art. He was born on June 17, 1898 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. Escher was of youngest of four sons and did not do well in school, he only did very well in drawing, carpentry, and music. He, in 1919, went to study at the School of Architecture and Decorative Arts, which was in Haarlem. He went under the architect Vorrink, but after listening to a lecture by Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita about different graphic techniques, Escher realized that his talents were more on the decorative side of art rather that the architectural side. He then changed courses and switched to de Mesquite being his main teacher. In 1922, he …show more content…
I feel that the optical illusions he created in his pieces, is amazing to look at since it confuses your mind yet somehow still looks appealing to the eye. When you first glance at Escher's work you see fascinating buildings, birds and fish transforming themselves, and floors being ceilings and ceilings being floors. His work has, for years, fascinated mathematicians. One question asked is about how he can understand concepts, that are very complex, without any formal mathematics background. I am very intrigued, as well as shocked, that he had no background in math yet still managed to created such mathematical pieces of art. I find his artwork truly amazing since he was able to create pieces that combine both math and art, which is no easy feat. His artwork reminds me of a puzzle that I used to attempt to put together with my grandparents all the time. It was an optical illusion and also a tessellation, so at times it got very difficult to put together. Escher’s work reminded me greatly of that because they are both very similar in style with each other. Escher created beautiful pieces of artwork that confuse the mind, but are still very aesthetically appealing, where sometimes, a floor can be a