NEW YORK – Christie's is delighted to announce M.C. Escher: The Art of Infinity Featuring Prints and Drawings Sold to Benefit the Robert Owen Lehman Foundation , an online sale of rare artwork by celebrated Dutch artist M.C. Escher open for bidding July 8 – 22. The most significant offering of works on paper by Escher to come to market in decades, the sale presents more than 60 iconic prints and rarely-seen drawings, many of which have seldom been at auction.

The diverse selection includes important early Italian landscapes, preparatory studies for Escher's best-known prints, a self-portrait of the artist, and more. Anchoring the auction is a group of works from the collection of Robert Owen Lehman Jr. Proceeds from the sale will benefit his Foundation's mission to promote the appreciation of classical music.

Robert Owen Lehman Jr. , says, “ As acollector of M.C. Escher for nearly fifty years, I look forward to seeing these great works by the artist move on to new collectors, as owning them has been a labor of love. Iwill be forever grateful to the Dutch polymath for the joy and fascination he has brought to me and my family over the years. The proceeds of this sale will be used to support the appreciation of classical music through the Robert Owen Lehman Foundation, and since Escher was as passionate about music as I am, I trust he would approve. "

Lindsay Griffith, Head of Prints and Multiples Department, Christie's New York, remarks , “It's a pleasure to offer this unprecedented collection of M.C. Escher. Escher was a skilled artist who seamlessly bridged the worlds of art, mathematics, and science in the mid-twentieth century. Today, his influence remains as important as ever, with a fascinating body of work that continues to mesmerize and inspire minds across the world. We are thrilled to present the market with this fantastic selection including works benefiting the Robert Owen Lehman Foundation.”

M.C. Escher is best known for his mind-bending artworks that combine mathematics and imagined realities, through highly detailed images. In these works, Escher often organizes space and objects through mathematical concepts such as infinity, reflection, symmetry and tessellation. Escher is beloved as a result by many in the science and computer graphics communities as a pioneer of images focused on these ideas. The selection in this auction offers collectors around the world an opportunity to own some the most important works on paper he ever made.

The sale will be on view from July 12 – 17, coinciding with Christie's10th Art+Tech Summit taking place at Radio City Music Hall in the heart of Manhattan on July 16 and 17.

(Press Release)