An Escher-esque Excursion

This past weekend, our professor encouraged self-directed excursions throughout the country. On Friday, several of the graduate students and I planned a trip to the Escher Museum, located in Den Haag. I've always been a fan of MC Escher's art as a kid growing up, and I was absolutely psyched to get to see them in person. Transportation wise, it was less than a 40-minute train ride to the Hague from Rotterdam. I took a scenic route to the museum, walking alongside the water canals. In combination with the torrential downpour, my visit to this place felt more solemn that the other cities I have visited in the Netherlands.

Trees of Den Haag.

The museum itself was housed in a former palace, where the esteemed Queen Emma (1858-1898) once lived. The interior of the palace was surprisingly spacious and ornately decorated. Each of the rooms contained curious shapes of chandeliers, ranging from doves, to seahorses, to upside-down umbrellas. When organizing the event, I had no idea that the museum was displayed within such a royal mansion, so it was a surprising treat to get to view two separate collections for the price of one tour.

The exterior of the Escher Museum.

Though the palace decorations were eye-catching, everyone's focus was on Escher's mind-blowing works of art. He was able to portray his themes of eternity and infinity through lithograph and woodcut mediums. I really liked how he played with the concepts of cycles and metamorphosis through his tessellations. There were even rooms that allowed visitors to create their own optical illusions. Astounded by the mathematical constructs that transcended the bounds of reality, we all had a remarkable time getting warped inside the world of Escher.

Staring death in the face.

Survival Guide Tips: Art & Architecture (Learned Facts & Personal Observations)
26. During the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age was a period where Dutch trade, science, and art were the most acclaimed in the world. A massive output of painting led to a dramatic declining of prices at the time.
27. At the start of the twentieth century, the latest art movements entered the country one after another including cubism, futurism and expressionism.
28. The Dutch seem to have an strong grasp on color theory. This is evident in their homes, parks, and capital projects where color is strategically implemented.
29. Many skyscrapers and modern buildings of the Netherlands are designed with sleek curvature, contributing to a unique skyline unlike any other.
30. Apparently, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, is well known among librarians. Prominent as a leader in his field, he even designed the Seattle Public Library.