Escher and the Alhambra

October 20, 2011

It's been our good fortune to be in Granada at the same time as a major exhibit of M. C. Escher's work, staged by foundation that manages his legacy, in honor of the 75th anniversary of his last visit to Granada. Why this exhibit honoring such an anniversary?
Because it's widely accepted that many of the forms Escher used, how the forms interlock, and his fascination with visual depictions of mathematical relationships all were inspired by what he found on the walls of the Alhambra.

Escher visited the Alhambra twice, once in his early twenties and once in his late thirties. A film at the exhibit demonstrates clearly the connections between the tile designs web had just seen at the Alhambra and many of Escher's familiar works. To remember how much Arab and Muslim influences in the sciences, arts, and culture have entered into our Western lives is nothing new. To find this demonstrated in an unexpected context, in the work of an artist we have both always adored, was a delightful surprise.