Dragon

1946–1951

Mezzotint: a brief experiment

In 1946 Escher became interested in intaglio printing, but it took too much time: until 1951 he made no more than seven mezzotint prints and never returned to intaglio, preferring tonal contrast to linear outline. These few works are considered masterpieces of the technique.

1950

The first solo exhibition in the USA

In 1950 Escher’s first solo exhibition in the USA was held in Washington; sales of his work in America rose sharply — in the mid-1950s he sold 150 prints through a Washington dealer for $2,125. In the 1950s Escher also became a popular public lecturer.

1951

“Time” and “Life”: worldwide fame

After two articles Escher became known in the USA: in late 1950 Israel Shenker, a correspondent of the British magazine “The Studio”, interviewed him (published in February 1951), and then “Time” (2 April) and “Life” (7 May) wrote about him. Popular in Europe but little known in America, the artist gained worldwide fame from that moment.

1954

An exhibition for the Mathematical Congress

In 1954, for the International Congress of Mathematicians in Amsterdam, an exhibition of Escher’s work organised by N. G. de Bruijn opened at the Stedelijk Museum; Roger Penrose and H. S. M. Coxeter were deeply impressed by his intuitive grasp of mathematics. The exhibition took up so much time that in 1954 Escher made only two works.