M.C. Escher: Artist or Artisan?

As mentioned in several letters and essays, he found music to be a great inspiration for his earlier work. Though he had not much in the way of musical talent, he loved music and played the cello in a string quartet. Upside down, or half-turn, symmetry also intrigued him since school days. His fondness for symmetry extended to word puzzles, as well. An example of his first regular division pattern with “Lions” exhibits that symmetry. These two forms of inspiration guided him from the passion to study woodcuts and then on to lithography. His family planned for him to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an architect. His poor school marks and aptitude for drawing pointed him more in the direction of decorative arts. M. C. Escher’s work is said to be the most widely mimicked art form. This is expressed in examples found at Computer Art Inspired by M.C. Escher. In a letter to his son Arthur, November 12, 1955, he is quoted at writing, “Good God, I wish I’d learn to draw a little better!” (Found in Escher on Escher: Exploring the Infinite, compiled by W. J. van Hoorn and F. Wierda.) This is an example of how even the most admired and copied artist still is their own worst critic. A few weeks before his death, he is also quoted at saying, “I consider my work the most beautiful and also the ugliest.” Even at the end of his career, his perspective of his work had not changed very much. This gives many artists, both professional and amateur, the kind of hope needed to continue pursuing their desires to create.

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