Hands drawing themselves. An infinite stairway. Those may be the most well known pieces by the Dutch artist Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) whose work is currently on display in the Max-Ernst-Museum in Brühl.
At the Haarlem School of Architecture and Decorative Arts, Escher first studied architecture before switching to decorative arts. There he met Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita who greatly influenced and encouraged him to pursue art. Escher began his artistic career by studying animals and nature, especially the landscapes of Italy and Spain. There, his fascination with intricate decorative designs took root.
