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Tessellations
Ms. Blaylock
What are Tessellations?
The word 'tessera' in Latin
means a small stone cube.
They were used to make up
'tessellata' - the mosaic pictures
forming floors in Roman buildings
Tessellations refers to pictures or
tiles, mostly in the form of
animals and other life forms. It
covers the surface of a
composition iwithout overlapping
or leaving gaps.
A Roman floor mosaic
Tessellations involve
using a shape or
group of shapes,
which are arranged
on a composition to
create pattern
and repetition.
Transformations
by
M C Escher
Patterns are
everywhere, but
not all patterns
are tessellations.
Henri Matisse uses a lot of pattern
Nigerian Adire cloth using a
blue dye and starch paste.
M. C. Escher
Self-Portrait
M. C. Escher
• Escher was born in
Leeuwarden in Holland on
June 17th, 1898.
• Referred to by his initials
which stand for Maurits,
Cornelis.
• Youngest of 4 brothers.
• The family moved to Arnhem
where he grew up and went to
high school.
'Self Portrait in Chair' - 1920
M. C. Escher: Tessellation
Master
Escher produced '8 Heads' in
1922 - a hint of things to come.
His inspiration…
Escher took a boat trip to
Spain and went to the
Alhambra, an extravagant
palace full of pattern.
There, he copied many of the
tiling patterns.
'8 Heads' - 1922
Alhambra Castle
One of the most well
known example of Muslim
architecture.
Alhambra consists of palaces
built by several rulers, each had
his own castle.
The Alhambra Palace is a
famous example of
Moorish architecture.
Islamic art does not
usually use
representations of
people, but uses
geometric patterns.
The idea behind several of the buildings of Alhambra
was to create a Paradise on earth.
Escher copied
many of the
designs he saw a
Alhambra, adding
his own flair
M. C. Escher 4 Motifs
1950
Design for Wood Intarsia Panel for Leiden
Town Hall, 1940
Tessellation
transitions
by M. C.
Escher
Realism & Tessellations Combined
• Sometimes,
Escher would
combine realism
and tessellations.
• Reptiles is an
example of this
combination.
'Reptiles' - 1943
Metamorphosis I, 1937
by M. C. Escher
Realism & Tessellation Combined
Cycle, 1938
by M. C. Escher
Realism & Tessellation
Combined
Day and Night, 1938
by M. C. Escher
Realism & Tessellation Combined
Escher’s Last Tessellation
• His last tessellation was
a solution to a puzzle
sent to him by Roger
Penrose, the
mathematician. Escher
solved it and, true to
form, changed the
angular wood blocks
into rounded 'ghosts'.
Penrose 'Ghosts' - 1971
How do you create a successful
tessellation?
Begin with a simple geometric shape - the
square
Change the shape of one side
Copy this line on the opposite side
Rotate the line and repeat it on the
remaining edges
Erase the original shape
Add lines to the inside of the shapes to
turn them into pictures.
Add color to enhance your picture.
By repeating your shape you create a
tessellated picture
How do you create a more complex
tessellation?
Draw a line that separates the two hidden
shapes you have found.
Add a few lines that bring out your
hidden shapes.
Make four versions of each shape, each
version with more detail
The most
detailed shape
can be changed
quite a bit
Make four versions of each shape with
more detail
The most
detailed shape
can be changed
quite a bit
Color all of one
type of shape the
same basic color
scheme
Line up the simplest shape with the
most complex along the bottom
Add the next row in the same way
Completed Tessellation