Back 13 August 2017

Announcement card for first solo exhibition

13 August 1923 saw Escher’s first solo exhibition open at the ‘Circolo Artistico’ in Siena. A milestone, but he paid very little attention to it. He was in love with Jetta Umiker and all his thoughts and actions were focused on her.

M.C. Escher, Announcement card for exhibition Siena, woodcut, 1923 — M.C. Escher, Announcement card for Exhibition M.C. Escher, Siena, woodcut, 1923

After returning to Switzerland with her parents at the end of June, they wrote each other long love letters. In one of them, he adulated the Tuscan city, for which his infatuation was almost as large as it was for Jetta.

‘I love this Siena so much. A naive person would feel as a new-born here, free of all sins. If the happiness of man depends on the place he lives, I would stay in Siena forever.’

He did make this announcement for the exhibition.

Erik Kersten Editor

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