The World's Largest Modern & Contemporary Prints & Editions Platform

M. C. Escher Value: Top Prices Paid At Auction

Sheena Carrington
written by Sheena Carrington,
Last updated6 Aug 2024
4 minute read
Castle in the Air by M. C. Escher - Sotheby'sImage © Sotheby's / Castle In The Air © M. C. Escher 1928
Leah Mentzis

Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Managerleah@myartbroker.com

Interested in buying or selling
Maurits Cornelis Escher?

Browse artworks
Maurits Cornelis Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher

31 works

M.C. Escher's artistic legacy has experienced a notable resurgence, with top-selling works fetching impressive prices in recent online auctions. This trend, particularly strong in 2021 and 2022, highlights a renewed interest in his unique creations. While his market peaked in 2020, the following years have seen a revival, suggesting promising returns for collectors. This article lists Escher's top-selling artworks at auction.

£579,965 for Reptiles (Bool 327)

($756,000 (USD))

Reptiles (Bool 327) by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Reptiles (Bool 327) © M. C. Escher

Escher's Reptiles (1943) is a lithograph that showcases his mastery of detail and perspective. The artwork depicts an interior scene where reptilian creatures emerge from a tessellated design on paper, embarking on a circular journey across various objects, including a book, triangular plank, and pentagonal prism. One reptile exhales smoke, adding to the lifelike quality. The composition's geometric balance, combined with Escher's meticulous attention to detail, elevates the work's allure. This piece, the 12th of 30 editions, set Escher's auction record at £579,965 at Sotheby’s in April 2022.

£240,204 for Coast of Amalfi (Composition)

($293,000 (USD))

Coast of Amalfi (Composition) by M. C. Escher - Swann Galleries Image © Swann Galleries / Coast of Amalfi (Composition) © M. C. Escher 1934

Coast of Amalfi (Composition) (1934) exemplifies Escher's fascination with the Amalfi coastline, as well as his exploration of architectural and geometric properties. This piece uniquely combines geometry with landscape, merging shapes and forms into a cohesive whole that reflects Escher's distinctive visual language and artistic mastery. The recent sale of this work underscores the sustained demand for Escher prints by selling for £240,204 at Sotheby's in November 2023.

£231,986 for Drawing Hands

($302,40 (USD))

Drawing Hands by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Drawing Hands © M. C. Escher

Escher's Drawing Hands (1948) is a lithographic marvel that portrays two hands emerging from the paper, each sketching the other in a mind-bending loop of creation. Rendered with photorealistic precision, the hands appear as if they are about to come to life, complete with intricate details like veins and knuckle creases. The artwork masterfully combines Escher’s signature mathematical precision with surrealistic illusion. Drawing Hands achieved a notable auction result of £231,986 at Sotheby’s in April 2022, solidifying its place as one of Escher's highest-selling works.

£206,527 for Ant

($239,400 (USD))

Ant by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Ant © M. C. Escher 1943

Escher's Ant (1943) exemplifies his meticulous attention to detail, featuring a close-up of an ant set against a textured backdrop. Every aspect of the insect, from its segmented body and legs to its delicate antennae and mandibles, is intricately shaded and defined. Escher's skilful rendering includes a photorealistic shadow cast by the ant, showcasing his fascination with the mathematical properties and intricacies of natural forms. This artwork achieved an impressive auction result of £206,527 at Sotheby’s in October 2022, highlighting its visual appeal and craftsmanship.

£201,600 for Metamorphosis II

Metamorphosis II (Bool/Kist/Locher/Wierda 320) by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Metamorphosis II (Bool/Kist/Locher/Wierda 320) © M. C. Escher 1939-40

Escher's Metamorphosis series, beginning in 1937, showcases his mastery of visual transformation. Metamorphosis II (1939-40) is a 158-inch woodcut inspired by the seamless architectural transitions of Atrani, Italy, evolving into intricate tessellations of geometric shapes, animals, and a chessboard. This rare study, executed in red and black, stands out from its later green and black versions. Personally crafted by Escher, it exemplifies his geometric precision. Metamorphosis II sold for £201,600 at Sotheby's in 2021, highlighting its enduring appeal and Escher’s unparalleled artistic prowess.

$173,917 for Circle Limit III

($201,600 (USD))

Circle Limit III by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Circle Limit III © M. C. Escher 1959

Circle Limit III (1959) showcases Escher's mastery of visual analysis and printmaking, executed as a woodcut on Japanese paper known for its ink absorption. This piece, part of Escher's exploration of tessellations, uses a flying fish motif that expands from the centre to create a hyperbolic effect. The interlocking right triangles add a three-dimensional quality, highlighting Escher's expertise with angles. As a trial proof (TP), it represents a pivotal step in his artistic journey. In October 2022, Circle Limit III sold for £173,917 at Sotheby’s, reflecting its significance in visual artistry.

£164,323 for Cubic Space Division

($214,200 (USD))

Cubic Space Division (Bool 386) by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sotheby's / Cubic Space Division (Bool 386) © M. C. Escher 1952

Executed before Escher's venture into animal-themed compositions, Cubic Space Division (1952) is a lithographic work showcasing an intricate lattice of parallel beams intersecting at right angles, meticulously dividing the space into uniform segments. This piece predates the Op art aesthetics later popularised by artists like Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley. Both artists utilised geometric repetition and tessellation to create dynamic, eye-catching pieces. Cubic Space Division fetched £164,323 at Sotheby's online sale in April 2022.

£ 152,177 for Smaller and Smaller

($176,400 (USD))

Smaller and Smaller by M. C. Escher - Sotheby's Image © Sothbey's / Smaller and Smaller © M. C. Escher 1956

Smaller and Smaller (1956) is a woodcut engraving executed in black and orange tones. The artwork exemplifies Escher's expertise in visual analysis, with the smallest figure, a tiny lizard, measuring just 2 millimetres. The composition features progressively larger, sharper figures, culminating in a tessellated, rose-like design. Escher's exploration of geometric angles, inspired by his collaboration with scholar H.S.M. Coxeter, is evident in this piece, which sold for £152,177 at Sotheby's in October 2022.

£139,250 for Metamorphosis II

(£)

Metamorphosis II by M. C. Escher - Sotheby'sImage © Sotheby's / Metamorphosis II © M. C. Escher 1940

This unique artwork from Escher's Metamorphosis II series stands out as a bespoke creation, rendered in a rare blue hue instead of the more common red and green prints. Escher's meticulous craftsmanship is evident in the intricate multicolour printing process, resulting in a composition that transitions from two-dimensional checkerboard patterns to various forms like reptiles, honeycombs, and birds, ultimately depicting the Italian town of Atrani. This exceptional piece, a testament to Escher's skill, achieved £139,250 at Sotheby's in October 2008.

£125,659 for Castle in the Air

($163,800 (USD))

Castle in the Air by M. C. Escher - Sotheby'sImage © Sotheby's / Castle in the Air © M. C. Escher 1928

In the Escher archive at the Kunstmuseum The Hague, a storybook from 1898 serves as the inspiration for Escher's woodcut Castle in the Air (1928). This piece showcases his mastery of visual manipulation, depicting a castle floating above what seems to be water, with a woman below appearing to lift it. The artwork has a dreamlike quality evoking surrealist aesthetics, though Escher was not formally part of the Surrealist movement. This work sold for £125,659 at Sotheby's in April 2022 and sits among Escher's top-selling works.

Leah Mentzis

Leah Mentzis, Partnerships Managerleah@myartbroker.com

Interested in buying or selling
Maurits Cornelis Escher?

Browse artworks
Maurits Cornelis Escher

Maurits Cornelis Escher

31 works