Initial S
probably 1932
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
woodcut on thin Japan paper
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Seymour and Iris Schwartz Collection
Accession Number
1981.80.10
Art Historical Context
**Initial S** by M.C. Escher, created around 1932 is a captivating woodcut print on delicate thin Japan paper. Escher, the renowned Dutch artist famous for his mind-bending optical illusions and mathematically precise compositions, crafted this piece as part of his early explorations in graphic design. The title suggests an illuminated initial letter "S," a nod to medieval manuscript traditions reimagined through Escher's innovative lens, blending intricate patterns with his signature precision. Woodcuts, Escher's favored medium during this period, involve carving designs into wood blocks and...
About the Artist
M.C. Escher
Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) was a Dutch graphic artist renowned for his mathematically-inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints featuring impossible constructions, tessellations, and explorations of infinity. Though he considered himself lacking in mathematical ability, Escher's work demonstrates profound intuitive understanding of geometry, symmetry, and spatial paradox. A transform...