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M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Dutch, 1898-1972

Nothing is quite what it seems in the universe of Maurits Cornelis Escher (widely known as M.C. Escher). The Dutch artist, famed for his graphic prints featuring infinite staircases, twisted perspectives and self-replicating animals, was a master of illusion in more ways than one.

Escher's pictures aren’t simply puzzles designed to play tricks on the brain; they were born of a desire to stretch our powers of perception, to encourage us to cultivate a natural curiosity and playfulness about the world around us. According to New York gallerist Skot Foreman, the artist had a rare gift. “He combined the structure and analytics of the left brain with the artistic creativity of the right brain,” Foreman explains. “Somehow, he turned images into mind-bending universes that were able to stretch the boundaries of our imagination, urging us to rethink the realms of possibility within nature’s laws of order.”

But creating illusionistic illustrations was not Escher’s only talent. He was also a passionate diarist, recording his thoughts and frustrations in written form throughout his life. He often lamented that his pictures could never fully convey his cerebral imaginings. At the same time, he expressed impatience with those who couldn’t see beyond the surface appeal of his shape-shifting patterns. Escher was an artist who sought perfection and felt misunderstood by the mainstream art world.

“The most important thing about Escher is that he was always curious, always researching and exploring. Most people lose this quality as they get older, but Escher maintained a childlike enthusiasm for the world,” says Dutch filmmaker Robin Lutz, whose thoughtful feature-length film, M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity, marries documentary footage with animation and unfolds at an unhurried pace, allowing Escher’s witty and intelligent prose to gently guide us through his creative evolution.

Escher always carried a magnifying glass in his pocket to “enjoy the tiniest details” at his feet, be it a plant climbing a rock, a butterfly or a grasshopper. He had a real passion for travel and spent more than a decade in Rome with his wife, Jetta, and young family. It was there that he first played with multiple perspectives, sketching the city’s architecture at night to avoid the “excessive baroque frills” he deemed too distracting in the daylight. Another big development was sparked by a 1936 visit to the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. Inspired by the Moorish tiles of the 14th-century landmark, Escher started to experiment with repeating patterns, or tessellations, creating his first woodcuts and lithographs of metamorphosing birds, lizards and fish interlocking and filling the entire surface of the paper in jigsaw fashion.

During and directly after World War II, Escher produced many of his most famous works, emotional reactions to a world plunged into chaos. This period marked the start of his fascination with impossible staircases, never-ending waterfalls and cyclical still lifes featuring figures and creatures seemingly caught in a loop, a paradox of entrapment and renewal.

Indeed, the concept of infinity was a major inspiration for him. It informs his fish-eye studies and curvilinear perspectives, which cram in so much dizzying detail it’s impossible to know where one thing ends and another begins. It’s no wonder, then, that Escher’s probing, mind-expanding prints have such enduring appeal.

Find original M.C. Escher art on 1stDibs.

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Artist: M.C. Escher
Birds and Fishes - Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Birds and Fishes, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1943 Unsigned Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellum 45 x...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

The Waterfall - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) The Waterfall, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vel...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

Surrealist Lovers - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Surrealist Lovers, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

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Color

NATURE - Flight of birds - Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Flight of birds, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Unsigned Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellum 45 x ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

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Color

Up And Down - Lithograph by M.C. Escher - 1947
By M.C. Escher
Located in Roma, IT
Hand Signed. Printed in black ink, and part of a limited edition thought to be of 400 specimen. Image Dimensions : 51 x 20 cm  Reference: Bool n. 352 Locher 146.  Very good conditio...
Category

1940s Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Lithograph

NATURE - Flock of Birds - Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Flock of Birds, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Unsigned Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellum 45 x 3...
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20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

Metaphysics - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Metaphysics, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellu...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

The Impossible Staircase - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) The Impossible Staircase, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be differ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

The Medieval Army - Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) The Medieval Army, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Unsigned Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellum 45 ...
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20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

The Impossible Castle - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) The Impossible Castle, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

NATURE - Autumn and Carp - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Birds and Fishes, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1943 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

Between Sky and Water - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Between Sky and Water, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

STILL LIFE - Reptiles - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Still life with reptiles, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1943 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be differ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

Reflecting Globe - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Reflecting globe, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

Ascendant and Descendant - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Ascendant and Descendant, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be differ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

LANDSCAPE - Castrovalva - Signed Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Italian landscape- Castrovalva, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1935 Signed in the plate Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be ...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

NATURE - Intertwined Lizards - Facsimile, Ltd /450
By M.C. Escher
Located in Paris, IDF
M.C. ESCHER (1898-1972) Intertwined Lizards, 2008 Facsimile after the original woodcut from 1938 Unsigned Numbered / 450 copies (the number you can see can be different) On vellum 4...
Category

20th Century Modern M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art

Materials

Color

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M.c. Escher art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic M.C. Escher art available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of art to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of red and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by M.C. Escher in woodcut print, paper, archival paper and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Surrealist style. Not every interior allows for large M.C. Escher art, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Paul Delvaux, Léonard Tsugouharu Foujita, and Julio de Diego. M.C. Escher art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,000 and tops out at $42,360, while the average work can sell for $6,000.

Artists Similar to M.C. Escher

Questions About M.C. (Maurits Cornelius) Escher Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertJanuary 27, 2025
    Hand with Reflective Sphere is so famous because it demonstrates artist M.C. Escher's skill at fooling the eye. Since he produced the print in January 1935, viewers have been intrigued by the realistic distorted reflection visible in the sphere. In addition, some people see a deeper meaning in the work related to how people distort their own self-images. Shop a selection of M.C. Escher art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 9, 2024
    How much M.C. Escher's art is worth depends on its type, size, condition and other factors. In 2022, one of his Reptiles (Bool 327) prints sold for a record-setting $765,000 at an auction in New York City. Famed for his graphic prints featuring infinite staircases, twisted perspectives and self-replicating animals, Escher was a master of illusion in more ways than one. His pictures aren’t simply puzzles designed to play tricks on the brain; they stretch our powers of perception and encourage us to cultivate a natural curiosity and playfulness about the world around us. If you own an Escher piece, you can use the services of a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer to learn more about its potential value. On 1stDibs, find a collection of M.C. Escher art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
    To tell if an M. C. Escher print is real, examine its details with a magnifying glass. If you see any pixelation, the piece is likely a reproduction. Escher used lithographic techniques to produce his prints, and this method usually involves heavy paper with a noticeable grain and a thicker application of ink. As a result, smooth or glossy paper or fine, light linework typically indicates that a print is a copy. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable art dealer can further assist you with the authentication process. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of M. C. Escher art.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 21, 2024
    Escher was famous for graphic prints featuring infinite staircases, twisted perspectives and self-replicating animals. His pictures aren't simply puzzles designed to play tricks on the brain; they were born of a desire to stretch our powers of perception and encourage curiosity about the world around us. During and directly after World War II, Escher produced many of his most famous works, which were emotional reactions to a world plunged into chaos. This period marked the start of his fascination with impossible staircases, never-ending waterfalls and cyclical still lifes featuring figures and creatures seemingly caught in a loop -- a paradox of entrapment and renewal. On 1stDibs, find a selection of M.C. Escher art.

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