Polygons and PolyhedraEscher

Tessellations in Art

Many artists, architects and designers use tessellations in their work. One of the most famous examples is the Dutch artist M. C. Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898 – 1972) was a Dutch artist who created sketches, woodcuts and lithographs of mathematically inspired objects and shapes: including polyhedra, tessellations and impossible shapes. He graphically explored concepts like symmetry, infinity, perspective and non-euclidean geometry.

Timeline

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Sky and Water I” (1938)

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Lizard” (1942)

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Lizard, Fish, Bat” (1952)

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Butterfly” (1948)

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Two Fish” (1942)

© M. C. Escher Foundation

“Shells and Starfish” (1941)

These artworks often look fun and effortless, but the underlying mathematical principles are the same as before: angles, rotations, translations and polygons. If the maths isn’t right, the tessellation is not going to work!

“Metamorphosis II” by M. C. Escher (1940)