M.C. Escher

(Dutch, 1898-1972)

The Three Spheres

, 1945

woodcut

signed and inscribed 'eigen druk' in pencil

11 x 6 5/8 inches.

Property from the Estate of Dorothy Manewal Stephens, St. Louis, Missouri

Literature:

Bool 336

Lot Essay:

We adore chaos because we love to produce order.

-M.C. Escher

Dutch artist M.C. Escher, born in 1898, is best known for his intricate and immediately recognizable woodcuts. Largely dismissed by the artworld until the age of 70 when he received his first retrospective, Escher’s work was a life-long passion. His iconic patterns and designs with their mathematically inspired tessellations and dream-like perspectives are rooted in his exploration of ‘the regular division of the plane.’ Inspired early on by his travels as a young man to Italy and Spain, much of his work is reminiscent of the detailed Moorish stonework of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain and many of his early prints are sweeping landscapes of the Italian coast.

During his lifetime, Escher produced only about 450 different prints: woodcuts, lithographs and mezzotints. By comparison, Pablo Picasso produced approximately 2,400 prints. Escher never had an apprentice or a printer to assist him in his process. Each of his prints were painstakingly printed by his own hand and often bear the inscription ‘eigen druk’ which means loosely ‘by my own pressure (hand).’

The four woodcuts presented here hail from the same private collection. Spanning from 1934-1965 they deftly encompass some of the central themes of Escher’s career: an incredibly rare proof of a landscape scene (Aeroplane Above a Snowy Landscape, 1934), planar experimentations (The Three Spheres, 1945), mathematical and dreamlike perspectives (Tetrahedral Planetoid, 1954) and his investigation of the concept of perpetual motion through the Möbius strip (Knots, 1965).

Framed.
Sheet: 15 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches.
Hinge mounted; Staining and remnants from previous adhesive at upper right and left corners of sheet; some creasing to paper most prominent at the upper corners; localized areas of surface dirt; toning to the paper most prominent around the edges of the sheet; minor surface scratches in the margins; minor wear at the edges of the sheet. Please request additional images.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.

Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

Joseph Stanfield

Senior Vice President, Director, Fine Art

josephstanfield@hindmanauctions.com 312.280.1212

As the head of Hindman’s Fine Art Department, Mr. Stanfield is instrumental in bringing in major consignments from private collectors, estates, dealers and institutions. He has led the department to dozens of auction records, with a particular focus on Chicago Modernism. Mr. Stanfield has played an integral role in the development of the American & European and Post War & Contemporary Art categories, with the most successful year for the department in company history coming in 2021. He also oversaw a house record for total sales for a week of Fine Art auctions in May 2022. Mr. Stanfield is also the lead auctioneer for the Fine Art sales at Hindman. Prior to returning to Hindman in 2019, he was at Toomey & Co. for eight years, where he oversaw important collections including the estate of Candice B. Groot, the collection of Governor Jim Thompson, and the estate of Robert E. Beck. Mr. Stanfield earned a BA from the University of Kansas where he studied Art History.

Monica Brown

Managing Director, Vice President, Fine Art, Head of Department, Prints and Multiples

monicabrown@freemansauction.com 303.825.1855

Ms. Brown rejoined the firm in 2019 as a senior specialist in the Fine Art department, where she has been the resident expert and Head of Sale for Prints and Multiples. She has over 17 years of art-market experience, most recently as founder of Monica Brown Fine Art. In addition to working for renowned auction houses, she has extensive knowledge in over five centuries of works on paper from her tenure at the Newberry Library in Chicago, and eight years of experience with one of London’s leading dealers of Pop Art editions.

Prints and Multiples

The Three Spheres

Lot Description

Condition Report

Preview

Auction Contact

Shipping | Pickup