The Dutch artist Maurits C. Escher (1898-1972) was a draftsman, book illustrator, tapestry designer, and muralist, but his primary work was as a printmaker. Born in Leeuwarden, Holland, the son of a civil engineer, Escher spent most of his childhood in Arnhem.

What does MC stand for in M.C. Escher?

Escher, in full Maurits Cornelis Escher, (born June 17, 1898, Leeuwarden, Netherlands—died March 27, 1972, Laren), Dutch graphic artist known for his detailed realistic prints that achieve bizarre optical and conceptual effects.

How much is an M.C. Escher?

An MC Escher painting can be worth tens of thousands of dollars on the low-end, with some on the high-end selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The most ever paid for an MC Escher print was $37,500 for the piece.

What is mezzotint in printmaking?

Mezzotint is an engraving technique developed in the seventeenth century which allows for the creation of prints with soft gradations of tone and rich and velvety blacks.

How did M.C. Escher create his tessellations?

Escher created his tessellations by using fairly simple polygonal tessellations, which he then modified using isometries. Escher organizes his tessellations into two classes: systems based on quadrilaterals, and triangle systems built on the regular tessellation by equilateral triangles.

What is a color lithograph?

In a color lithograph, a different stone is used for each color. The stone must be re-inked every time the image is pressed to the paper. Most modern lithographs are signed and numbered to establish an edition.

What is MC Escher Relativity worth?

The lot was consigned from the collection of graphic artists Robert and Wilcke Smith, who approached Escher to buy some prints in 1959. The lot was accompanied by Robert’s original letter, as well as a signed response from Escher naming his price as $20. That’s around $187 in today’s money.

What is monoprint printmaking?

The monoprint is a form of printmaking where the image can only be made once, unlike most printmaking which allows for multiple originals.

What is drypoint art?

Drypoint is a printmaking process in which a design is drawn on a plate with a sharp, pointed needle-like instrument.