What were the first and middle names of the Dutch artist M.C. Escher?

Maurits Cornelis Escher (born June 17, 1898, Leeuwarden, Netherlands; died March 27, 1972, Laren, Netherlands) had no formal mathematics training but many of his lithographs, woodcuttings, and drawings were based in mathematical principles.

Often sick as a child, Maurits missed a lot of school. He failed second grade and later failed his high-school exam. He enrolled in the School for Architecture and Decorative Arts (SADA), in Haarlem, to study architecture. After a week, he switched to graphic art, at which he had been proficient since childhood.

Early in his career, Escher’s art focused on the natural world. After SADA, he lived in Italy and Spain. In these countries, he was inspired to create not only realistic art but also geometric art, physically impossible works using tricks of visual perception, and fantastic art. Much of his work explores infinity, symmetry, reflection, and other mathematical concepts.

"Reptiles", from 1943, represents the never-ending life-cycle. "Drawing Hands", from 1948, shows two drawn hands drawing one another into existence. Mr. Escher's 1953 work, "Relativity", shows multiple staircases from multiple perspectives, with figures walking impossible routes. His 1961 "Perpetual Motion" shows water seemingly flowing both against gravity and with it simultaneously.

Digital samples of Mr. Escher's work are widely available online.