The concept of infinity intrigued Escher and he wanted to capture the notion in an image somehow. Then in 1957, he read an article containing a diagram of a hyperbolic plane written by H.S.M. Coxeter, a mathematician at the University of Toronto. This was the inspiration that caused Escher to create the Circle Limit prints which in turn motivated many mathematical investigations and artistic endeavors (inlcuding my own).
This article, published by Science News Online, takes a closer look at hyperbolic tiling, noting it's importance through history in art and mathematics – a must read for all fans of Escher. It's mind boggling how Escher was able to create those woodcuts with such precision without the use of modern technology. It's also thrilling to know that the same things that inspire me as an artist were inspiring him as well.
“The ideas that are basic to [my art] often bear witness to my amazement and wonder at the laws of nature which operate in the world around us.
“By keenly confronting the enigmas that surround us, and by considering and analyzing the observations that I have made, I ended up in the domain of mathematics. Although I am absolutely without training or knowledge in the exact sciences, I often seem to have more in common with mathematicians than with my fellow artists.” – MC Escher
Exploring the Infinite
Inspired by Infinity
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