Path of Life II
1958
Image not available — this artwork is under copyright
View on museum website →Medium
woodcut in gray-green and black, printed from two blocks
Dimensions
image: 36.4 x 36.7 cm (14 5/16 x 14 7/16 in.) sheet: 48.8 x 45.1 cm (19 3/16 x 17 3/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Cornelius Van S. Roosevelt Collection
Accession Number
1974.28.72
Art Historical Context
M.C. Escher's *Path of Life II* (1958) is a captivating woodcut printed from two blocks in gray-green and black, 36.4 x 36.7 cm. This Dutch artist's late-career masterpiece exemplifies his signature style of mathematical precision and visual paradox, blending intricate patterns with profound themes. Created during Escher's mature period, when he had mastered complex printmaking, the work draws viewers into a contemplative journey, evoking the cyclical nature suggested by its title. The woodcut medium is key to its impact: printing from two blocks allowed Escher to layer subtle tones and sharp...
About the Artist
M.C. Escher
Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) was a Dutch graphic artist renowned for his mathematically-inspired woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints featuring impossible constructions, tessellations, and explorations of infinity. Though he considered himself lacking in mathematical ability, Escher's work demonstrates profound intuitive understanding of geometry, symmetry, and spatial paradox. A transform...