Winter 1935

21 December, winter begins. Not Escher’s favourite season, although during this time of the year he was most productive. He had no choice, there was nowhere else to go. For years he would travel during spring and summer and these trips would bring him inspiration for his prints. During autumn and winter, he would use his travel drawings and photo’s for new woodcuts, wood engravings and lithographs. But the cold and snow that accompanied the winter months did not appeal to him much.

This was especially true for his years in Switzerland. There, winter presented itself with all its force. During the winters of 1935 and 1936, his house in Château-d’Oex was surrounded by a wall of snow and white mountains. But his sons loved it. During their first Swiss winter, Escher made this photo in which George and Arthur are playing with their sledges in front of the house.