Escher Tessellations

A tessellation is a pattern created by repeating a shape again and again in order to cover a plane such as a wall or a floor with no gaps and no overlaps. See photos below for examples of tessellations.

Tessellatus in Roman ruins Littlecote Hall - Hungerford.
(Photo credit: Thinboyfatter on Flickr used under creative commons license)

Tessellation is derived from the Latin word 'tessella' meaning small stone tiles. Tessella were arranged into 'tessellatus' the intricate mosaic designs found on the walls and floors of many ancient roman buildings

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Example of tessellation from the Alhambra.
(photo by Gruban via Wikimedia-Commons)

The use of tessellation was common in Muslim artwork, fine examples of tessellated designs can be seen at the Moorish palace Alhambra in Spain. Well known for his own use of tessellation, M.C. Escher was inspired by the tessellated designs of the Alhambra.

Above are some examples common tessellations (click to view larger images)

These are some of my favorite examples of tessellations or regular division of the plane drawings by M.C. Escher. Click any image for more details. Don't see what your looking for? More Escher prints are available at All Posters.com

Sky and Water
M. C. Escher
Sky and Water- woodcut print based on regular Division of the Plane by M.C. Escher first printed in 1938.


Day and Night
M. C. Escher
Day and Night- woodcut by M.C. Escher first printed in 1938.



Verbum
M. C. Escher
Verbum (Earth Sky and Water)- M.C.Escher lithograph first printed 1942.



Encounter
M. C. Escher
Encounter- M.C. Escher lithograpgh fist printed in 1944. Featuring a tessellated pattern.



Magic Mirror
M. C. Escher
Magic Mirror- Lithograph by M.C.Escher first printed in 1946. Featuring a tessellated pattern.



Liberation
M. C. Escher
Liberation- Lithograph by M.C. Escher first printed in 1955.


Circle Limit IV
M. C. Escher
Circle Limit IV (Heaven and Hell)- regular Division of the Plane woodcut by M.C. Escher printed first in 1960

Maurits Cornelis Escher- June 17, 1898 to March 27, 1972


M. C. Escher at All Posters

The youngest son of George Arnold Escher and Sarah Gleichman Escher, Maurits Cornelis Escher was born June 17, 1898 in the Dutch town of Leeuwarden. The Escher family home in Leeuwarden was a fine house named "Princessehof", which would later become a museum featuring exhibitions of M.C. Escher works.

The Escher family moved to Arnhem, where M.C. Escher attended primary and secondary school. As a student M.C. did not excel, making poor grades in all subjects except drawing. He eventually failed his final exam, never officially graduating. An art teacher took an interest in M.C. Escher's drawings and taught him to make linocuts. This is a lesson Escher would use to good advantage, for the rest of his life.

A veiw of Leeuwarden Escher's early home

Eventually Maurits enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts in Haarlem. Soon after enrolling encouraged by his graphic arts teacher Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Escher made the decision to pursue decorative arts rather than architecture.

After finishing school Escher spent much of the 1920's traveling between Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. This was a very productive and eventful time in M.C. Escher's life.

In 1922 M.C. Escher travelled to Spain where he visited Madrid's famous Prado museum and the Alhambra in Granada. Viewing the Moorish tiles of the Alhambra would spark Escher's interest in the Regular Division of the Plane and influence much of his future work. During his lifetime Escher would make 137 Regular Division drawings (Tessellations).

A view of the Alhambra Granada Spain

While working in Italy Maurits met his future wife, Jetta Umiker in March of 1923. Escher held his first one man show in Siena in mid-August 1923, but Escher was distracted from this milestone by thoughts of Jetta. Soon after the Siena exhibition, he proposed to Jetta. The couple was married in Italy June 24, 1924. Maurits and Jetta purchased a home near Rome, where they would live until 1935. In early 1924 Escher held his first one man show in his native Holland.

Maurits and Jetta's first son George Escher was born in July 1926. As testament to Escher's growing fame both King Emmanuel and Benito Mussolini attended George's christening.The Escher's had a second son Arthur born in 1930

M.C. Escher's life at times plagued by poor health would continue to be busy and productive. Throughout his lifetime Escher would go on to create 448 lithographs, woodcuts and wood engravings and over 2000 drawings and sketches, illustrate books, and design tapestries, postage stamps and murals.

M.C. Escher Mural On Water Treatment Plant
Photo By: IntrepidTraveller on Flicker
Under Creative Commons License

Most well-known for his impossible structures like "Ascending-Descending" and "Relativity" as well as his transformation drawings, including "Metamorphosis "and "Sky & Water. Escher's works continues to fascinate and inspire millions of people today.

M.C. Escher maybe most famous for his mind bending 'Impossible Realities", here are just a few of the most well known examples. All of these prints are available in a wide range formats click any image for more details. If you don't find what your looking for "Click Here" to see even more.

Still Life and Street
M. C. Escher
Still Life and Street -Woodcut print by M.C. Escher. Printed in March 1937 this is Escher's first printing of an impossible reality.

Relativity
M. C. Escher
Relativity - Lithograph first printed in 1953. This is one of M.C. Escher's most well-known and well-loved prints.

Another World
M. C. Escher
Another World (Other World)- Woodcut print by M.C. Escher. First printed January, 1947. The bird/human sculpture in this print is modeled from an actual sculpture, Escher received as a gift from his father in-law.

Waterfall
M. C. Escher
Waterfall - Lithograph by M.C. Escher, first printing October, 1961.

House of Stairs
M.C. Escher
House of Stairs - Lithograph by M.C. Escher first printed in November, 1951. This print features "wentelteefje" imaginary creatures invented by Escher.

Tower of Babel
M. C. Escher
Tower of Babel - woodcut by M.C. Escher first printed in 1928. Escher often dismissed his works before 1935, as mere practice exercises. However, these early works provide a look into the developement of his interest in perspective that would be so prominent

Balcony
M. C. Escher
Balcony - Lithograph by M.C. Escher first printed in 1945

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