M.C. Escher, Mathematics, and Impossible Drawings: A virtual museum guide
Click on the link below to access the virtual musuem:
Introduction
MC Escher is widely known for his mathematical art — but for the most part, Escher himself always pointed back to his lack of theoretical understanding. How then did he find himself in the interconnection between art and mathematics? This virtual museum brings you through Escher’s life and career, exploring how he came to be renowned for his mathematical art.
You’ll also be brought through a step-by-step workshop on how you can create your own impossible drawing (like below).
Museum Highlights
- Escher’s Early Life
- The Alhambra, Moorish Tiles and Escher’s Tessellations
- Escher and Depictions of Infinity
- Topology, Penrose Steps, and Escher’s Impossible Drawings
- Workshop: Impossible Perspectives
How to use the virtual museum
- Go to the ArtSteps link above, or click here.
- The museum features a guided tour — just click on the play button on the bottom of the screen.
- Navigate through the guided tour by clicking on the back or next buttons on either side of the play button.
- At any point in the museum tour, feel free to click around to view the images in more detail.
- Have a pencil, ruler and paper ready for the workshop at the end.
Concluding Thoughts
MC Escher continuously reiterated the fact that he was not a mathematician and was not even good at mathematics throughout his lifetime. This is in spite of the many explorations that present themselves in his art on mathematical topics such as geometry and topology. Even professional scientists and mathematicians came to be inspired by Escher’s works, where H.S.M. Coxeter eventually proved Escher’s Circle Limit Series in 1995.
All this shows how there are many paths to exploring mathematics. Whether through art, music or traditional academia, mathematics is certainly not restricted to just those who formally study it. Rather, it invites anyone who is curious enough to play and be creative with it.
Click on the link below to access the museum:
References
“Gallery.” n.d. MC Escher. M.C. Escher Foundation and The M.C. Escher Company. Accessed May 4, 2021. https://mcescher.com/gallery/.
Guillén, Beatriz. 2017. “The Mathematical Secrets of Escher | OpenMind.” OpenMind BBVA. June 17, 2017. https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/leading-figures/the-mathematical-secrets-of-escher/.
O’Connor, J J, and E F Robertson. 2000. “Maurits Cornelius Escher: Biography .” MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive. University of St Andrews. May 2000. https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Escher/.
Schattschneider, Doris. 2010. “The Mathematical Side Of M. C. Escher”. Notices Of The AMS 57 (6): 706–718.
Smith, B. Sidney. 2014. “The Mathematical Art of M.C. Escher .” Platonic Realms Interactive Mathematics Encyclopedia. Platonic Realms. 2014. https://platonicrealms.com/minitexts/Mathematical-Art-Of-M-C-Escher.
