The Magic Mirror of M.C. Escher [25th Anniversary Edition] 艾歇尔

"Awomanoncerangmeupandsaid,'Mr.Escher,Iamabsolutelycrazyaboutyourwork.InyourprintReptilesyouhavegivensuchastrikingillustrationofreincarnation.'Ireplied,'Madame,ifthat'sthewayyouseeit,sobeit,'"AnengaginglyslycommentbytherenownedDutchgraphicartistMauritsCornelisEscher(1898-1972)--thecomplexambiguitiesofwhoseworkleavehastyorsingle-mindedinterpretationsfarbehind.Longbeforethefirstcomputer-generated3-Dimageswerethrillingthepublic,Escherwasamasterofthethirddimension.Hislithograph"MagicMirror"datesasfarbackas1946.Intakingthattitleforthisbook,mathematicianBrunoErnstisstressingthemagicspellEscher'sworkinvariablycastsonthosewhoseeit.ErnstvisitedEschereveryweekforayear,systematicallytalkingthroughhisentireoeuvrewithhim.TheirdiscussionsresultedinafriendshipthatgaveErnstintimateaccesstothelifeandconceptualworldofEscher.Ernst'saccountwasmeticulouslyscrutinizedandmadeaccuratebytheartisthimself.Escher'sworkrefusestobepigeonholed.Scientific,psychological,oraestheticcriteriaalonecannotdoitjustice.Thequestionsremain.Whydidhecreatethepictures?Howdidheconstructthem?Whatpreliminarystudieswerenecessarybeforehecouldarriveatthefinalversion?AndhowarethevariousimagesEschercreatedinterrelated?Thisbook,completewithbiographicaldata,250illustrations,andexplicationsofmathematicalproblems,offersanswerstotheseandmanyotherquestions,andisanauthenticsourcetextofthefirstorder.