Artist Statement

Why I Make Prints

My Time With Escher continued ...

Escher at his writing desk with my "Pollution" print in the foreground.   I asked Escher if I could give him my print. He had to decline my offer with the explanation that he was being relocated to what I understood was some kind of an artist’s residence. He further told me that he could not take all of his possessions, let alone my print. My print is shown laying in the foreground of one of the four photographs I took in his studio. To this day I do not know why I only took four pictures and regret not having his wife take my picture with him, or more pictures around the studio, or even of his neighborhood. Memories diminish over time but it seems that his home was red brick on a tree-lined street with lots of shade. To me it was something out of Father Knows Best. When he stated that he was sorry that he could not accept my print, he also said that he was very sorry that he could not give me one of his prints as they were not his to give-they were “treasures-of-the-state”. Don’t quote me on that term, but that seems right. I said “Oh that’s okay”. Don’t get me wrong, I would have taken one in a heartbeat had he been able to give it to me. I said “Mr. Escher you are really big in the United States”. His reply was classic. He said “Yes I am, aren’t I”. No conceit, he was merely stating a fact. At one point I extended an offer to stay in Holland and print his prints if he would just pay me minimum wage. He seemed amused and said that little old ladies from the United States would pay their own way and pay him to print his prints just for the opportunity. He told me that only he prints his prints. The fifteen minutes allotted to me on that Friday afternoon turned into several hours as we discussed techniques, materials, philosophies, etc. I am forever grateful to Escher for his allowing me a portion of his precious time. I was so in awe that I did not think to have him autograph my sketchbook. Why I only took four photographs will forever haunt me.     Escher at his writing desk.   Escher's print "Other World 1947" hanging in his studio.   Back in Amsterdam, I went into a gallery and could have purchased “Day and Night” but once again, I only had my allotted monies for Europe. My hope is that one day I can own an Escher print. Maurits Cornelius Escher passed away in 1972 less than two years after my visit. My favorite quote of his is “If only you knew what I have seen in the darkness of night”. I might be paraphrasing a bit. Many people have commented that a number of my prints look like Escher’s. Where I am deeply flattered-my prints are not anything like Escher’s (wish they were) they merely reflect his influence. I will always cherish my memories of “My Time with Escher!" << return to page one

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