Of interest regarding Escher's work and subsequent
development and popularity is to examine newspaper references. Only in relatively
recent times, with the advent of the internet and the making available by
commercial and national library concerns of newspaper publishers is this detail
readily available. Before this listing, any mention of Escher’s work in
newspapers was largely lost, and was only occasionally discussed in pre-internet
days, for the very good reason being that this resource was not searchable, at
least with ease. No one in their right mind would spend their time examining
old newspaper archives in person on the off chance of finding an occasional Escher
reference! However, even with the wonders of modern day assistance, the task is
still of a Herculean nature, albeit now, rather than a famine, there is a
flood! There is no one (large) database of the entire world’s press. Indeed,
the papers are most fragmentary, with National libraries, such as the National
Library of Australia (NLA), and various bodies offering a broad selection, and
individual papers, such as The New York
Times (NYT) retaining their own copy. Further, some are free, such as the NLA, and
indeed, many others of a good quality service, whilst with others a
subscription is required such as the NYT. Simply stated, by its very nature,
any in-depth investigation of ‘all’ newspapers is hindered somewhat. However,
it is still possible to be extremely thorough without an all-encompassing, exhaustive
approach. The amount of time required for such an exhaustive analysis is simply
judged disproportionate as to worth. And this is without taking into consideration
non English papers! Indeed, the Netherlands papers are of particular interest.
As can be seen, contrary to popular opinion, Escher was not dismissed out of
hand in the Netherlands, and was discussed in the press, from the very
beginning, and furthermore most substantially, with on occasion whole pages,
and with the first reference to his work, as against a mention in the papers
for non-artistic reasons, as early as of 1920. Indeed, a search on ‘M. C.
Escher’ shows 1,448 entries! Indeed, it’s almost too much to assess. Of
interest is to examine this total by decade, to see if interest in Escher waxed
and waned. This gives: Each reference, in chronological
order, is accompanied with the references presented in the following order:
author (if known), the title of the writing, the newspaper title, with dates,
followed by the work pictured (if indeed so), in brackets, along with other
commentary detail of my own if considered appropriate. Predominantly, the
papers are of the US, and where otherwise this is stated
in brackets after the paper. As a rule, copy with an image is generally of more
interest than otherwise. As such, this is a work in progress, and will likely be so
for a considerable while, with new releases as time permits, and so no claims
are made for exhaustiveness. Sources accessed include: Newspaperarchive.com (US local papers, not national papers) The British Newspaper Archive (UK local, not national papers) The New York Times (subscription required) National Library of Australia (free) Delpher (Dutch National archives) (in Dutch, free) An open question is to the point of
all this. Is it merely ‘stamp collecting’ or truly of Escher scholarship? However,
one can at least see when the fad for Escher took off in a popular context aside from his native country, and much more besides. Certainly, what new
insight have been gained is most minor indeed, and is disproportionate as to
the lengthy time expanded on this project. But here it is…. 1920 (1) Anon. Arnhem Courant 8 January 1920 1927 (3) Anon. Algemeen Handelsblad 4 November 1927 Anon. ‘Kunst-Agenda’. De Maasbode 30 October 1927 Anon. ‘Leidsche
Kunstvereeniging’. Algemeen Handelsblad
4 November 1927 1929 (2) Anon. ‘Tentoonstellingen’.
15 April 1929 Anon. ‘Aankondiging’.
Leeuwarder Courant 27 April 1929. 1930 (1) Anon. ‘Agenda’.
Algemeen Handelsblad. 13 May 1930 1931 (6) Anon. ‘Een
Houtsnede— Van M. C. Escher op de Tentoonstelling van Grafische’. Provinciale Geldersche en Nijmeegsche
courant 21 May 1931 Anon.
‘Agenda’. Algemeen Handelsblad. 2 July
1931 Anon.
‘Eleveir’s Maandschrift’ 8 October 1931 Anon. ‘Bij
den kunsthandel…’ Het Vladerland 8
October 1931 Anon. ‘Tijdschriften
Elevirs Maandschrift’. 10 October 1931 Anon. ‘M.
C. Escher. Kunstaal Martinus Liernur te ‘s-Gravenhage’. De Maasbode. 16 October 1931 Anon. ‘Werk Van M. C. Escher’. Haagsche Courant 17 October 1931 Anon. ‘Zelf
portait van M. C. Escher’ Haagsche
Courant 19 October 1931 Anon. Werk
Van M. C. Escher’ ‘Delftsche Courant 19
October 1931 Anon. ‘Onze
jonge Kunstenaars’. Bataviaasch
nieuwsblad 19 November 1931 1933 (1) Anon. ‘Amaljitaansche kust’ door M. C. Escher wordt. De Telegraaf 12 January 1933 1934 (3) Anon. ‘ART PRIZE TO NEW YORKER. Tittle Wins at Chicago With Portrait of Augustus
John." Special to The New York Times
June 5, 1934, p. 21 Mary L.
Alexander. ‘The Week In Art Circles’. The
Cincinnati Enquirer.
June 17 1934, p. 5 Jewell,
Edward Alden. ‘Contemporary Prints. The International Graphic Arts Group at the
Century of Progress in Chicago’. The New York Times Sunday July 8, 1934, p. 124 Anon.
‘Agenda’ Arnhem Courant 8 October
1934 Anon. ‘Kunst.
Artibus Sacrum’ Arnhem Courant 18 October
1934 1935 Fred J. Melville,
‘The Art of the Postage Stamp’. The Illustrated London News Saturday, November 30, 1935. (U.K),
p. 3 1941 Anon. ‘Wandversieringskunst
in niewe banen geleid?’ 15 May 1941 Lengthy piece. 1949 ‘Enrico’. ‘The
Stamp Corner’. The Winnipeg Tribune. Saturday September 10 1949, p. 31 H v C. ‘Kunst. Grafiek van M. C. Essher [sic]’ June 7, 1949 1953 Anon. M. C.
Escher Dag rn nacht. De Telegraaf 24
October 1953 Anon. ‘Vier
grafici in Arnhem’. De Tijd. Escher, van Huesden and van Kruingen and Prange in.
Gemeentemuseum in Arnhem. 1954 1955 Anon. Amigoe Di Curaco 19 April 1955 ? ‘International
tentoonstelling van gekleurde houtneden te London’. Limbursch 18 January 1955. this must be refering to the Arts
Council exhibit above. 1957 Mary L.
Alexander. ‘Colored Woodcuts Are Displayed In Gallery’s Exhibit At Museum’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Sunday March 31 1957, p. 7 Johan D. (no other detail as to name) ‘Tentoonstelling M. C. Escher Kystallogarphie in het platte vlak’ Niewsblad van Het Noorden 17 May 1957 1959 Exposites 14 February 1959 Exhibition with Disberg, Escher, van Huesden and van Kruingen in Maritime museum.
1961 Advert. For ‘The Graphic Work of M. C. Escher’. The Times (UK). Thursday, April 6, 1961, p. 15
1968 Otto Dekom. ‘Books in the News. Dutch artist’. The Morning News Tuesday January 30 1968 A review of The Graphic Work of M. C. Escher.
Anon. ‘De verbeeldingswereld van Maurits C. Escher’. Nieuwsblad van het Noorden 12 Juni 1968, blz 17
Mary King. ‘SIU Campus Art Exhibit’. St Louis Post Despatch Wednesday July 24 1968 An exhibition in the communications building of the Edwardsville Campus of South Illinois University, titled ‘Dada, Surrealism and Today’. Brief mention of Relativity.
Anon. ‘De Verbeeldingswereld van Maurits C. Escher’. Nieusblad van het Noorden 12 June 1968 biz 17 (In Dutch) (Ripple and Mobuis Band).
Anon. Advertenie. ‘M. C. Escher Grafiek t. m. zondag 22 September 1988 Singer Museum Laren’ (N. H) De Telegraaf 29 October 1968 Small advert on Laren exhibit.
1969 Anon. ‘Television Highlights’. The Ottawa Journal. Thursday February 6 1969 Television listings. Man at the Centre. ‘Escher’. Produced for the CBC by Douglas Leiterman. A film looking at ‘little-known’ Escher. Does anyone know of this? is there a recording in existence?
Bay area entertainment week calendar - Arts. Oakland Tribune. Sunday May 25 1969 Brief mention of Escher in passing at the Vorpal Galleries (with other exhibiting artists).
1970 Anon. ‘Sleeves to save. Illustrated London News, Saturday 3 January 1970, p. 22 Mott the Hoople with Escher’s ‘Reptiles’ cover. amid a discussion on record sleeves.
Lia Van Gillerrr. ‘M. C. Escher Tegen Zijnn Zin Rage in Pop-Wereld’. Algemeen Handelsblad 18 March 1970 Illustrated with the Scaffold L. P, of Escher's print Ascending and Descending.
Jared Johnson. ‘Dylan has influence on Mott the Hoople’. The Morning News. Tuesday June 27 1970 Brief mention of ‘German artists’ [sic] Escher of his cover for Mott the Hoople, the subject of the piece.
Elise Emery, Arts Editor. ‘View from up, down, around’. Independent Press Telegram. Sunday November 29 1970 (Day and Night) An exhibit at Gallery B of California State College.
Hugh Kenner. ‘From Cliché to Archetype’ The New York Times December 13, 1970, p. ? (Sphere Spirals) Apparent book review.
1971 Jared Johnson. ‘Top albums of ’70’. The Morning News. Tuesday January 2 1971, p. 19 A review of fourteen albums as the best of 1970 as ‘honours of distinction (or otherwise)’. Escher’s cover ‘House of Stairs’ of the ‘Mandrake Memorial’ Puzzle voted best cover.
Anon. ‘Art-Science Show at PSU this weekend’. The Express. Wednesday July 14 1971 Minor mention of Escher at an Art-Science show.
Charles Westheimer. ‘Catalog reflects vitality and variety in modern life’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Thursday September 9 1971 On ‘The Last Whole Earth Catalog’, with a name check only.
Anon. ‘Next week in Ames’. Ames Daily Tribune. Saturday 31 July 1971 Brief mention of Escher in passing at a Donald Bailey crystallography gathering.
Ger Kruis. ‘De wonderbaarlijke weelden van Escher in bijzonder boek’. Zaterdag 27 November 1971 (Circle Limit I, Hand with Reflecting Sphere) In depth article, in Dutch.
1972
Anon. ‘Sentinel Television Log’. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Friday 21 April 1972 Television programme M. C. Escher.
Tom Carter. ‘Maurits Escher. Little-known artist packs exhibition’. The Argus, Wednesday, May 17 1972, p. 24 (Waterfall) Apparently of San Francisco, Vorpal Galleries. Muldoon Elder, the gallery owner is mentioned.
Charles D. Perlee. ‘The Lively Arts – Books-Music-Art-Drama’. The Sanberdino County. Sun May 14 1972, D-13 (Waterfall) Apparently of San Francisco, Vorpal Galleries. Muldoon Elder, the gallery owner is mentioned.
Tom Carter. ‘Surrealist played games in art’. Green Bay Press Gazette Sunday June 18 1972, p.9 (Waterfall) The first line begins ‘San Francisco – now lets see where the logic falls…’ which is syndicated in two other papers.
David L. Shirey. ‘Art: Escher Prints Shown at La Boetie’. The New York Times July 8, 1972, p. 12 (Waterfall) Discussion on the exhibit.
C. V. S Roosevelt (To the editor) ‘Art Mailbag Escher: The People’s Choice?’ The New York Times Sunday, August 13, 1972, p. 163 Roosevelt defends Escher against Schjeldahl’s diatribe.
Anon. The Cincinnati Enquirer August 6 1972
Robert Patrick. (To the editor) ‘Art Mailbag Escher: The People’s Choice?’ The New York Times Sunday, August 13, 1972, p. 163 Patrick defends Escher against Schjeldahl’s diatribe.
John L Smith. ‘Art Mailbag Escher: The People’s Choice?’ The New York Times August 13, 1972, p. 163 Smith defends Escher against Schjeldahl’s diatribe, and with a timely and witty put down.
Christopher J. Heinrich. (To the editor) ‘Art Mailbag Escher: The People’s Choice?’ The New York Times August 13, 1972, p. 163 Heinrich defends Escher against Schjeldahl’s diatribe.
Anon. ‘Art Gallery Notes’. Weekend The Times. Saturday September 23 1972, p. 15A Brief mention of Escher exhibit at the College Union Art Gallery among other art exhibit in the region.
Anon. ‘Optical Illusion’. The Clarion Ledger, Jackson Daily News October 8, 1972 (Waterfall)
Anon. In Review. ‘Escher Gets What’s Due’. Rochester N.Y. Wednesday October 18 1972 (Self Portrait) Review of The World of M. C. Escher.
Anon. ‘World of Books. New At The Public Library’. Freeport Journal Standard Saturday October 21 1972 A listing of new books at the Freeport public library, including The World of M. C. Escher.
Anon. ‘UCSC Art Show’. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Tuesday November 7 1972 Exhibit at Merrill College library
Anon. Ad. St Louis Dispatch. Sunday November 26 1972 Ad for The World of M. C. Escher
Anon. ‘Sentinel Television Log’. Santa Cruz Sentinel. Friday 21 April 1972 Television programme ‘M. C. Escher’
Anon. The Courier Journal. Sunday September 3 1972
Kirchhoff, Barney. European Stars and Stripes, p. 21-23 1972 /08-04/ page-21-23 (Relativity) Major article. This mentions, among other matters ‘The Whole Earth Catalog’, a reference I was unaware of at the time.
1973 Elise Emery, arts editor. ‘The now and future museums’. Independent Press Telegram. Sunday January 28 1973 (Day and Night) On the Natural History exhibit at ***
? Escher Reception. Star News. Tuesday January 9 1973, Pasadena California (Exhibit at the National History Museum)
Hubert Crehan. ‘The Nothing-Is-As-It-Seems World Of Maurits C. Escher’. St Louis Post Dispatch February 11 1973 (Day and Night)
? ‘His Up Is Down’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Sunday March 18 1973 (Belvedere, Another World, Sky and Water I Circle Limit IV). A major piece.
Hardwick, Elizabeth. The New York Times, May 13, 1973, p. 339-340. An in-depth book review of The Summer Before Dark, by Doris Lessing. (Rind) Illustrations in the book by Escher on pp. 1, 3, 5, 7, 12, 16, 18 and 27.
Anon. ‘in society’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 5 1973 A name check, of the Dine/Kitaj exhibition.
Anon. ‘Dine/Kitaj Opening Hostesses Are Named’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Wednesday April 11 1973 A name check
Anon. ‘Current Art Calendar’. The Courier Journal. Sunday April 15, 22 1973 A name check
Anon. ‘Works of Dutch Artist Set for Detroit Display’. The Holland, Michigan, Evening Sentinel. May 25 1973 (Cycle)
Jellinek, Roger. ‘Mythology as a Science’. The New York Times, May 12, 1973, Saturday p. 31 Name check in a book review.
Ann Schecter. ‘Escher’s Ingenious prints mix art, scientific logic’, Sunday, November 4 1973 (Self Portrait, Belvedere)
Anon. ‘Natural History Museum Shows M.C. Escher’s Art’. Van Nuys (Calif) Thursday, March 8? 1973
1974 Anon. Anon. St Louis Post Dispatch. Sunday May 12 1974, p. 12, 17 Major piece (Sky and Water I, Puddle, House of Stairs, Drawing Hands, Reptiles.
Anon. ‘The Shop’. The Cincinnati Enquirer Wednesday May 29 1974 Name check.
Anon. ‘Escher prints given to National Gallery’. The Courier Sunday June 9 1974 Cornelius van Schaak Roosevelt gift.
Anon. ‘What’s New in Art’ The New York Times, August 11, 1974, Sunday, p. 116. Brief listing of National Gallery Art exhibit.
Anon. The Van Wert Times Bulletin, Wednesday October 9 1974
1975 Anon. ‘Paper Back Talk’. The New York Times, July 20, 1975, Sunday, p. 115. Name check re calendars.
Anon. Television. Listing The New York Times, July 21, 1975, Wednesday, p. 67. The World of M.C. Escher.
Anon. Arts and Leisure Guide. The New York Times August 24, 1975, p. 108 Vorpal Gallery exhibit. Listing
Leslie Burleson. ‘Post Mortem: A Tribute’. El Paso Prospector Headframe Humanities Review 14 October 1975 (Reptiles, Waterfall, Cycle, Ascending and Descending) A major piece on Escher.
Anon. ‘Mining the Arts. Escher ignores convention’. The Montana Standard September 7 1975 (Sky and Water I)
Donald Miller. ‘Woodblock Prints Of Escher on View’. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Friday October 3 1975 (Hand with Globe)
Anon. Whirlpools. San Rafael Independent Journal. Tuesday October 21 1975 (Whirlpools)
1976
Anon. ‘Byck Gallery Opening’. The Courier Journal. Sunday March 14 1976 Name check
Anon. ‘M. C. Escher’ The Age (Australia). Wednesday June 9 1976 Ad for the ‘Expression’ company of Escher posters
Ed Wingen. ‘De toverkunst van M. C. Escher’. De Telegraaf 28 August 1976 (Self Portrait) Lengthy article on Escher.
Anon. ‘Escher’s symmetry’. The Courier Journal. Sunday September 12 1976 (Lizards, PD **)
Angela Taylor. ‘When All the Pieces Fit Hang Them on the Wall’. The New York Times September 12, 1976, p. 76 (Belvedere) Jigsaw-related aspects, by Elliot Gallin.
Anon. ‘Bramwell Fletcher To Open Sharon Arts Exhibition’. Sentinel-Enterprise Fitchburg, Mass. November 16, 1976, p. 17 (Encounter)
Anon. Anon. The Courier. Sunday December 12 1976 (Escher self portrait) Brief review of The Magic Mirror of M. C. Escher.
Anon. ‘Tankstream Bookshop’. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). Saturday December 18 1976 Ad for Escher calendar.
Clara Hieronymus, reviewer. ‘Fantasies of M.C. Escher, Art in Courtroom Studied’. Tennessean Sun, December 26, 1976 (the ‘Art in Courtroom’ is unconnected, referring to another book) Review of Fantasy & Symmetry (no illustrations).
1977 Shirley Patterson. ‘Modest artist worth studying’. The Morning News Saturday January 15 1977 Review of The Magic Mirror of M. C. Escher (Belvedere, Self Portrait, 1943)
Anon. ‘Mathematics. Doris Schattschneider’. The Ottawa Journal. Monday October 31 1977 Flier for Doris Schattsneider lecture on Escher.
Anon. ‘Deception in Art’. Democrat and Chronicle. Thursday June 16 1977 Brief mention to Escher in passing. Of note is the piece itself; of interest!
1978 J. B. Gadsdon, reviewer. ‘Master printmaker’. The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). Saturday January 14 1978 Review of The Magic Mirror of M. C. Escher. (Drawing Hands, Self Portrait, 1943, Day and Night)
Anon. Art. The Courier. Sunday January 15 1978 Escher mention in passing.
1980 Malcolm W. Browne. The Creativity of Melvin Calvin: In Search of the Good Idea. The New York Times. Tuesday, November 4, 1980, pp. 37-38 Escher mention in passing in a piece on Melvin Calvin.
1981 ‘Het Onmgelijke via de tekenstift’ 16 July 1981
1986 Anon. ‘Community Invited to Free Events’. Frederick News-Post. February 1986?, p. 9 (Sky and Water I)
Anon. ‘Werk van M. C. Escher in Gorcums Museum’. Nederlands Dagblad Wednesday 29 October 1986 (Bevedere)
Anon. ‘Art of Escher to be topic of Hood lecture’. The Frederick Post. March 5 1986 (10 March 2015) Math and art lecture by Doris Schattschneider. (Waterfall)
1991 David Steinberg. ‘The uniquely symmetrical perceptions of M. C Escher’. The Arts, Albuquerque Journal. Sunday October 27 1991 (Day and Night Self Portrait 1943, Belvedere) An exhibit.
1992 Anon. Ad. ‘Eschecize Your Mind’. Akron Beach Journal. Thursday April 30 1992 Gifts on T-Shirts.
1993 Anon. Ad. Reno Gazette Monday November 29 1993 Ad for M. C. Escher: his Life and Graphic Work.
1994 Evan Levine. Guide to videos. ‘Escher's playfulness missing in video’. The Paris News Sunday November 13 1994 (Downbeat) review of the video The Fantastic World of M. C. Escher
1995 Diane Heilenman. Viewpoints ‘And farther north’. The Courier Journal Sunday December 3 1995 On a exhibition at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (Hand with Reflecting Globe)
1996 Reon Carter. ‘Escher’s lizards puzzling project’. The Cincinnati Enquirer. Friday December 13 1996 ‘Imagination Project’ of soft foam puzzle lizards
1997 Anon. ‘National Gallery celebrates centennial of Dutch lithographer M.C. Escher’. Aiken Standard. November 23 1997 (Text only)
Knight Ridder. ‘Playful prints. National Gallery showcases the familiar images of M. C. Escher’. Sunday Arts, December 28, 1997 page 3C (Drawing Hands, Snakes, Hand with Reflecting Sphere, detail from Metamorphosis II)
1998
Roberta Smith. ‘ART REVIEW; Just a Nonartist in the Art World, but Endlessly Seen and Cited’. The New York Times January 21, 1998 I can’t quote make out Smith’s viewpoint here. I’m not sure if she is critiquing Escher or is commenting as a dispassionate observer as to his place in art history. Certainly, Doris Schattsneider in Visions takes a dim view of her comments here.
Gary Schwan. ‘Prints of the puzzle-meister coming to Norton’. The Palm Beach Post. March 20 1998, p. 35 (Waterfall)
Pam Harbaugh. ‘Seeing isn’t believing’. Florida Today. Sunday April 26 1998 (Sky and Water II, Waterfall, Cycle) M. C. Escher: A Private World celebrates the centennial of the Dutch artist’s birth.
2000 Michael Pollak. ‘A Webhead ahead of his time’. Santa Cruz Sentinel Personal Tech. Monday October 2 2000 (Bond of Union, Another World)
Michael Pollak. ‘Screen Grab; An Artist the Web Was Made For’. The New York Times September 28, 2000 Escher promoting sites on the Internet.
2001 Esther Talbot Fenning. ‘New class will discuss wide variety of artists’. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Thursday January 11 2011 Brief mention of Escher.
2003 Toby Sterling. ‘Thirty years after his death, M. C Escher gets museum of his own’. Kentucky Advocate Sunday October 26 2003, p. E7 (Day and Night)
2010 Slyviane Gold. ‘Escher's Journeys to and from Reality’. The New York Times September 24 2010
2011 Dorothy Shinn, art critic. Art Review. ‘Escher ahead of his time’. Akron Beach Journal. Sunday February 13 2011, pp. E1, E8 (Relativity, Bond of Union, Mobius Strip II, Depth, Reptiles) On an exhibit at Akron art museum
Anon. Flier. ‘M. C. Escher Impossible Realities’. The Akron Beach Journal February 10 2011 Opening Part (Drawing Hands)
Dorothy Shinn, art critic. ‘Monet exhibit gets extension’. The Akron Beach Journal. Tuesday February 22 2011 Mention of Escher.
Anon. Art. The Akron Beach Journal. Thursday March 3 2011
(Bond of Union, Relativity) Created 28 February 2017. 4 April 2017 update with Netherlands newspapers |