This signed tissue-paper proof of M. C. Escher’s “Frogs in the Lilypond by Moonlight“ Emblemata is from an unrecorded, unique, and previously unknown collection of proofs, formerly in the possession of the art historian G. J. Hoogewerff (1884 – 1963), the author and initiator of the Emblemata suite and publication undertaken  tin collaboration with  M. C. Escher.

Twelve plates from the ‘XXIV Emblemata, possibly including this example, were also the first exhibited works of Escher in a museum, from February to March of 1932.

Hoogewerff played a crucial role in the personal artistic life of M. C. Escher. Escher lived and worked in Rome between 1924 and 1935, and Hoogewerff was the director of the Dutch Historical Institute in Rome from 1924 to 1950. Around 1930 Escher became quite depressed, struggling with health problems, lack of inspiration, lack of interest in work and financial difficulties, all of which led him to contemplate ending his artistic career altogether. Hoogewerff revitalized  Escher with the suggestion of a partnership production of a collection of ‘emblemata,’ being allegorical illustrations with an accompanying explanatory text, captions by a Latin motto. Thus using a traditional form and at the same time creating something new, Hoogewerff wrote the text under the pseudonym of A. E. Drijfhout and Escher created woodcuts of his images incorporating the text.

Hoogewerff also played a significant role in Escher’s recognition as a graphic artist. He was the first well-known art historian to write a lengthy eighteen-page article on Escher’s work, published in the leading Dutch artistic literary journal ‘Elseviers Geillustreerd Maandschrift’ in October, 1931. In it he also favorably discusses the Emblemata. A few months later, in February 1932, possibly through connection of Hoogewerff, Escher had his first museum exhibition in the “Haages Gemeente Museum.” There he exhibited his graphic work for the first time, including woodcuts from the Emblemata, in the exhibition “Moderne Nederlandsche Houtsneden.”

The printed book created with Escher’s woodcuts was finally published nearly half a year later in the summer of 1932 by C. A. J. van Dishoeck in Bussum. The total edition of the book was 300 examples, of which 25 examples contained the woodcuts signed in pencil with initials only. All copies of the published edition, including the 25 ‘special’ copies, were printed on beige Van Gelder Similie-Japan paper.

It is believed that Escher created two sets of proof prints, hand-rubbed woodcuts printed on thin Japan tissue, some of which he signed with his full name while other proofs were unsigned. Escher’s personal set of proofs was bequeathed to Holland’s State Museum, and one set was presented to Hoogewerff and retained by him for the rest of his life. Following Hoogewerff’s death his Emblemata proofs passed into private hands with a portion of the proofs later acquired by Artists’ Market in 2020.  This proof print of “Frogs in the Lilypond by Moonlight” was framed by Artists’ Market in a hand-crafted black cherry frame with 22-karat gold leaf banding to museum standards of conservation.