Italian Landscapes

Like many artists, M C Escher's printmaking and artistic design was inspired by experiencing breath taking Italian cities and landscapes. During his many years in Italy he would travel on foot and create sketches that would become the inspiration for much of his life's work.

His love of the Italian landscape began In the spring of 1921 during a visit to Southern Italy while he was still attending school for graphic arts. After finishing school he traveled to Italy where he met his wife, Jetta Umiker.

In 1924 Escher settled down in Rome and over the next 11 years he frequently visited the different regions of Italy drawing inspiration from the beautiful architecture, atmosphere, and landscapes creating sketches that would be a source inspiration for years to come. After traveling the italian countryside he would then return to Rome and create prints of his best work.

The influence of Italy and his sketches of Italian Landscape can be seen in almost all of his earlier prints as well as many of the prints he created later in life.

A great example from this period in Eschers life is Castrovalva a print he made in 1930 from his experience living Calabria as well as the lithograph Atrani, a small town on the Amalfi Coast.

In later works such as the lithograph Waterfall where one can also see examples of his Italian influence in the background, or the reflection of the trees in the woodcut Puddle, the same trees in his earlier print Pineta of Calvi which was made while he was still in Rome in 1932.

Escher did not leave rome until 1935 due to increasing political tension. The Italian landscape would remain a source of inspiration for the rest of Eschers life.