13

Maurits Cornelis Escher

1898-1972, Dutch

"Puddle," 1952

Color woodcut on thin, laid, Japan paper under Plexiglas
Signed and inscribed in pencil in the lower margin: M. C. Escher, and "eigen druk"
Image: 9.375" H x 12.5" W; Sheet: 12" H x 16" W

  • Literature: Bool 378
  • Notes: Born in 1898 in the Netherlands, Maurits Cornelis Escher was a graphic artist known for making realistic prints that often feature optical illusions. Escher studied at the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem, Netherlands, where he developed an interest in graphics and a specialty in woodblock printmaking. After completing his studies, Escher lived and worked in Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium.

    Escher's mature artistic style first emerged in 1937, when he began producing realistic but highly surreal prints using lithography mezzotint, wood engraving, and woodcut. He has been referred to as the "father of modern tessellations," as many of his works show objects that blend into complex interlocking patterns that depict a scene or object from multiple perspectives simultaneously.

    Escher returned to the Netherlands during World War II, where he lived and worked until he died in 1972. Not closely aligned with any artistic movement, Escher struggled to gain critical acceptance for his work, despite being featured in 319 exhibitions during his lifetime. Escher described himself as a mathematician rather than an artist. Nevertheless, he left behind an oeuvre of over 450 prints and about 2,000 drawings.

    Within the last decade, Escher has been the subject of major retrospective exhibitions in Brazil and Scotland, and nearly four hundred prints, drawings, and art-related objects are currently on view at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, through September 5, 2022.
  • Condition: Good condition. A rich impression with good colors, on a sheet with wide, nearly full, margins. The palest mat staining showing very slightly in the margins. A few extremely pale and unobtrusive foxmarks. A 0.125" linear, pale stain near the edge of the left margin, plus a tiny edge nick at the same margin edge, neither of which affect the image. Occasional very minor handling creases in the margins, not affecting the image. Hinged to the back mat from the verso of the upper margin edge.

    Frame: 15.5" H x 18.75" W x 1" D

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Buyers are responsible for arranging their own shipping estimates and deliveries. Moran's in our discretion and as a courtesy to buyers, can arrange to have purchased lots packed, insured and forwarded by a third-party shipper at the request, expense and risk of the buyer. Moran's assumes no responsibility for acts or omissions in such packing or shipping by other packers or carriers, even if recommended by Moran's. Nor does Moran's assume any responsibility for any damage to picture frames or to the glass therein. In circumstances where Moran's arranges for such third-party services, Moran's may apply an administration charge of 15% of that service fee.

June 21, 2022 12:00 PM PDT
Monrovia, CA, US

John Moran Auctioneers

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 $499,999 $25,000
$500,000 + $50,000