Posthumous Prints
Escher made many prints during his lifetime, and these are the most prized, but there is a class of Escher work called a "posthumous print." These prints were not printed by Escher's own hand or with his approval, but instead were printed after his death. Such prints are usually easy to identify as per Escher's directive all of his woodblocks had holes drilled in them and lithography stones sanded down or marred after his death. There are however some woodblocks that were in the hands of private parties before this directive, and as such exist fully intact.
There are a few posthumous prints that have shown up over the years, but anyone who has an original woodblock is in theory capable of printing them.
There are a few posthumous prints that have shown up over the years, but anyone who has an original woodblock is in theory capable of printing them.
Blowball (Dandelion) - Bool 330 and 330a
Notice the prominent holes in the prints. These are the result of intentional destruction as to clearly identify any posthumous prints. This method works well as you can see.
Fish Vignette - Bool 406
This is a prime example of a woodblock that was sold (or gifted) by Escher prior to his death. As such, it was not drilled like Blowball. As you can see by the writing on the card, it was printed in an edition of 50 in 1995. Please contact me if you have any information about the circumstances surrounding the 1995 printing of this block.
Circle Limit IV (Heaven and Hell) - Bool 436
This is another example of a drilled block being printed. A clear example of a posthumous print.
Rind Study
Broken Columns
Notice the prominent holes in the prints. These are the result of intentional destruction as to clearly identify any posthumous prints. This method works well as you can see.
Fish Vignette - Bool 406
This is a prime example of a woodblock that was sold (or gifted) by Escher prior to his death. As such, it was not drilled like Blowball. As you can see by the writing on the card, it was printed in an edition of 50 in 1995. Please contact me if you have any information about the circumstances surrounding the 1995 printing of this block.
Circle Limit IV (Heaven and Hell) - Bool 436
This is another example of a drilled block being printed. A clear example of a posthumous print.
Rind Study
Broken Columns