Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) is one of the world's most famous graphic artists. His art is enjoyed by millions of people all over the world, as can be seen on the many web sites on the internet.M.C. Escher, during his lifetime, made 448 lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings and over 2000 drawings and sketches. Like some of his famous predecessors, - Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Dürer and Holbein-, M.C. Escher was left-handed.
Apart from being a graphic artist, M.C. Escher illustrated books, designed tapestries, postage stamps and murals. He was born in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, as the fourth and youngest son of a civil engineer. After 5 years the family moved to Arnhem where Escher spent most of his youth. After failing his highschool exams, Maurits ultimately was enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem.
After only one week, he informed his father that he
would rather study graphic art then architecture, as he had shown his drawings
and linoleum cuts to his graphic teacher Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita, who
encouraged him to continue with graphic arts.
After finishing school, he traveled extensively through Italy, where he met
his wife Jetta Umiker, whom he married in 1924. They settled in Rome, where
they stayed until 1935. During these 11 years, Escher would travel each year
throughout Italy, drawing and sketching for the various prints he would make
when he returned home.
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Jetta Umiker |
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