"He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder." ~ M. C. Escher
Born on this day, Dutch graphic artist Maurits Cornelius Escher (1898-1972) was a master of the third dimension work in lithography and woodcutting. Through the use of repeated geometric patterns, called tessellations, he tried to represent the limitless and infinite.
"Wonder is the salt of the earth," said the perfectionist who, amazingly, complained about his limited drawing ability. His fascination with symmetry began as a child, when he arranged bits of cheese into patterns, one against the other, to fit perfectly on a slice of bread.
"My subjects are also often playful...it is a pleasure to deliberately mix together objects of 2 and 3 dimensions, surface and spatial relationships, and to make fun of gravity."
The beauty of Escher's work is that there is more going on then what first meets the eye. Take a second look at his optical illusions: he weaved a spell with intricate repeating patterns, mathematically complex structures, and spatial perspectives. Always, like wonder and discovery, the interpretation remained open to speculation.
A creative genius, with a sense of humor, he once explained, "Only those who attempt the absurd...will achieve the impossible. I think ...I think it's in my basement... Let me go upstairs and check."
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