Escher, close up
4 February to 28 May 2017
Escher’s personal photo archive
Maurits Cornelis Escher used photography as a source of inspiration and as part of his preliminary studies, as was evident for the first time in the exhibition Escher, Close Up. Escher took hundreds of photos during his life, but he never exhibited them. Although they transcend the level of glimpses into his family life, these photos were considered private by Escher. He compiled neatly ordered photo albums comprising snapshots of wonderful memories and interesting images. After his death, his archive was only viewed by a select group of historians.
Escher, Close Up enabled visitors to see a selection of images from Escher’s personal photo archive. His photos not only offer insight into his mind and his daily life, but they also provide an unparalleled vision of his way of working as an artist. They show how he strived towards composition and visual illusion, for instance. To look at his photos is to focus on what fascinated the artist, revealing his perspective on the world. Escher has never been so close.
Read the stories by former curator Dunja Hak about the role photography played in Escher’s life and work and how this exhibition came to existence.
The extraordinary in the ordinary
Escher, close up: a fresh look at the famous artist and his work
