Mirror: Escher's Impossible World

Author: Bruno
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: This book depicts the life, creations, and understanding of the world-famous print artist M.C. Escher in beautiful language and exquisite images. Many of Escher's prints stem from paradoxes, illusions, and double meanings. Self-interlocking loops are a recurring theme in his work. He strove to achieve completeness in his scenes, regardless of their inconsistencies, or to bring together elements that could not coexist simultaneously. Through this, he created a captivating "impossible world." Escher's creation of the "impossible world" was highly successful, earning him numerous admirers worldwide, including many renowned scientists, such as the Nobel laureate Chen Ning Yang, who greatly admired Escher's art. Once, a woman told me on the phone, "Mr. Escher, I am completely captivated by your work. Your print 'Lizard' depicts the process of rebirth so vividly. I replied, 'Madam, if that's how you see it, then so be it.' This witty and humorous response came from the famous Dutch print artist Maurits Cornelis Escher. The complex multivalence of his work is beyond the reach of superficial and simplistic explanations. Long before computer-generated three-dimensional images stunned the public, Escher was already a master of the third dimension. His lithograph 'Mirrors' dates back to 1946. Bruno Ernst, the mathematician, chose this title for the book to emphasize the magical charm of Escher's work for readers forever. Over the course of a year, Ernst visited Escher weekly and discussed his entire body of work systematically. This discussion led to a friendship, allowing Ernst to intimately engage with Escher's life and his conceptual world. Ernst's account is detailed and accurate, and has been corrected by the artist himself. Escher's work cannot be categorized. It is impossible to fairly evaluate it solely from scientific, psychological, or aesthetic perspectives. Why did he create these images? How did he construct them? What preliminary research did he conduct before completing the works? What connections exist between the images Escher created? This book, with Escher's life, 250 illustrations, and explanations of numerous mathematical problems, provides answers to such questions. Moreover, the book is based on the most reliable firsthand sources. It has been translated into over a dozen languages.