M.C. Escher: More Mathematics Than Meets the Eye

http://im-possible.info/english/articles/escher_printgallery/

by nathanh • 15 years ago

66 8 15 years ago

im-possible.info

slashcom• 15 years ago

Obligatory reference to Gödel, Escher and Bach.

(For the record, I do understand this article explores a different mathematical aspect of Escher than Hofstadter)

jcitme• 15 years ago

Does anyone have a larger version of the last picture?

ElbertF• 15 years ago

Here's a slightly larger version (thanks to http://tineye.com): http://netdna.webdesignerdepot.com/uploads/droste/escher4.jp...

hoag• 15 years ago

As someone who grew up mesmerized as a little kid by a large framed work by Escher in our house, this is an awesome read. :)

grishick• 15 years ago

Thanks! Awesome read! Makes me love Escher's work even more.

ot• 15 years ago

I've seen Lenstra's talk about Escher's print gallery some years ago in Rome and then again after a few months in Pisa.

One of the most captivating talks I've ever seen. He's a great speaker. I wish I had him as a professor.

EDIT: forgot to add, in the Mathematica blog there is another explanation of the mathematics between the "Droste effect" and the code to obtain it: http://blog.wolfram.com/2009/04/24/droste-effect-with-mathem...

lloeki• 15 years ago

I'm just speechless about that computed re-creation assembling the four frames. Brilliant.

The interpretation of the blank spot is also quite nice and very Escher-esque, with the content literally jumping out of the frame. Probably Escher left the center patch blank because his construction method would have him exceed some technical/physical limitation, so instead of drawing an approximation he preferred a void.

JonnieCache• 15 years ago

There's an OS X screensaver based on this work which animates the effect, in a similar way to "dive" animations into fractal images. Fascinating but also nauseating after a while.

http://wakaba.c3.cx/s/lotsablankers/lotsaescher

M.C. Escher: More Mathematics Than Meets the Eye

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