A Math Magician Right in the Middle of the Possible: M.C. Escher Retrospective at Somerset House

Can a staircase go both up and down at the same time? Can a hand draw itself on paper? Can water return to its starting point, defying the laws of nature? When Maurits Cornelis Escher put these mental and visual paradoxes onto paper, there were no computer graphics, no virtual reality, nor any concept of the metaverse… Yet the enchanting world Escher built seemed to intuit all these possibilities of the digital age decades in advance.

Standing as the artist’s first major retrospective in London, this massive exhibition welcomes visitors at Somerset House until September 6, 2026. Receiving a full 5 stars from The Guardian’s legendary art critic Jonathan Jones, you really need a valid excuse to miss this show.

Portrait of an Artist Who Broke His Own Rule

Escher (1898–1972) stood right at the center of architectural drawings, sharp mathematical patterns, and optical illusions throughout his life. Classical academic art education failed to meet expectations; his architectural dreams were left unfinished, leading him toward graphic design. However, these “failures” freed him from molds, paving the way to create his own independent style. To discover which rules he could play with, he first cracked the boundaries of those rules: perspective, symmetry, and continuity.

Tracing this extraordinary biography, the exhibition at Somerset House brings together over 150 original works, stretching from the artist’s early landscapes to iconic masterpieces of his mature period. Coming face-to-face with the originals of masterpieces repeatedly reproduced in art history books, posters, and pop culture—such as “Day and Night”, “Relativity”, and “Hand with Reflecting Sphere”—creates a captivating element of surprise for the viewer.

Tessellations, Metamorphoses, and Impossible Structures

Rather than following a vertical chronology, the exhibition is shaped around four fundamental axes: Landscapes, tessellations, metamorphoses, and impossible structures. This choice presents the anatomy of a way of mental thinking rather than a mere biography. Escher’s core passion was always transformation: a fish gradually evolving into a bird, the flat surface of a canvas swallowing the viewer with a sense of three dimensions, or the question of where a line begins and ends…

These questions were also at the center of the mathematics world. Meeting the famous crystallographer Roger Penrose at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 1954, Escher developed the idea of “impossible objects.” This historical encounter led to the birth of cyclical impossible figures—later to be known as the “Penrose stairs”—and Escher’s most recognized geometric illusions. Art and science walk hand in hand in this exhibition, for in Escher’s mind, these two disciplines had never been separate in the first place.

Interactive Spaces and a Family-Friendly Experience

Somerset House deserves extra praise for taking this exhibition out of the “pictures hung on a wall” mold and turning it into an experiential space. Specially designed interactive areas offer visitors the chance to personally test Escher’s visual puzzles: you can create your own geometric patterns and experience the mechanics of perspective illusions. This makes the exhibition highly attractive to families as well; the reaction of a child encountering Escher’s world for the first time is no different from the astonishment of adults.

Jonathan Jones, master critic of The Guardian, awarded the production 5 stars, describing the exhibition as “a fascinating and mental journey into the metaverse.” Achieving a full score on this scale in London’s ambitious summer exhibition season is an extremely rare accomplishment.

Frequently Asked Questions About the M.C. Escher Somerset House Exhibition

Where and on what dates can the exhibition be visited?

• The exhibition is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 until September 6, 2026, in the Embankment Galleries South Wing at Somerset House in London. Tickets start at £16.50.

What makes this exhibition special?

• This show is M.C. Escher’s first massive retrospective exhibition ever held in London, bringing together over 150 original works side-by-side on this scale for the first time.

Is it suitable for children and families?

• Yes. Since the exhibition space includes interactive illusion tests and pattern workshops, it offers a highly educational and entertaining experience for both children and adults.

NO-26 Editor’s Art Route Note

You may have seen Escher’s iconic works countlessly in the digital world or in books; however, witnessing the paper texture, original print dimensions, and ink density of a lithograph up close is a completely different experience. With its central location on the banks of the River Thames (on the Strand, right next to the Courtauld Gallery) and its rich content, Somerset House deserves the top spot on your summer route in London. You have time until September 6; however, considering the weekend crowds, we strongly recommend booking your tickets online in advance!