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National Gallery of Art - THE COLLECTION
image of Three Spheres II
M.C. Escher
Dutch, 1898 - 1972
Three Spheres II, 1946
lithograph, image: 26.1 x 46.6 cm (10 1/4 x 18 3/8 in.)
sheet: 38.2 x 57.7 cm (15 1/16 x 22 11/16 in.)
Cornelius Van S. Roosevelt Collection
All M.C. Escher works © Cordon Art-Baarn-the Netherlands. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
1974.28.23
From the Tour: M.C. Escher — Life and Work
Object 17 of 24

Escher was particularly intrigued by reflections and by the concept of a sphere acting as a mirror. Here, the central sphere that reflects Escher at work is flanked by one, at left, filled with water, and at right, by another opaque sphere. All three spheres are reflected in the polished surface on which they rest. The spheres at right and left are reflected in the center sphere. Finally, the entire composition is seen as the drawing on the paper reflected in the central sphere.

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