M.C. Escher: Chronology

1898
Born 17 June in Leeuwarden, northern Netherlands.
1916
Makes his first print while attending secondary school in Arnhem.
1919-1922
Enters School for Architecture and Decorative Arts, Haarlem. Transfers from architectural program to study printmaking, particularly woodcut, under Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (1868-1944).
1922
In the spring, travels to Italy and is deeply impressed by the hillside towns. In the fall, travels to Spain and produces coloured sketches of the wall mosaics in the Alhambra, Granada.
1923-1935
Settles in Rome. Sketches countryside in summer, then develops drawings into prints in winter.
1929
Does his first lithograph.
1931
Begins to make wood engravings, which require a harder end grained woodblock, permitting finer lines.
1935
Leaves Rome to escape the rising tide of Fascism, moves to Switzerland.
1936
Travels to Spain by freighter. In return for his passage, gives prints executed on voyage to the shipping company, which uses them for advertising. Visits La Mezquita mosque in Córdoba and revisits the Alhambra in Granada.
1937
Moves to Uccle, near Brussels, and abandons landscape as his primary subject matter.
1941
Returns to Netherlands, settles in Baarn.
1946-51
Produces seven mezzotints.
1954
His exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, organized to coincide with the International Congress of Mathematicians, initiates contact with the scientific world.
1969
Works six months to produce his last print, Snakes.
1972
Dies 27 March, in Hilversum.