Biographical Note
Oscar Reutersvärd, 1915-2002, was a Swedish graphic artist known for being "the father of the impossible figure." Reutersvärd's work focused on geometric aspects rather than world-building, as fellow impossible figure artist M. C. Escher's work did. In 1983, Reutersvärd met J.A.F. "Hans" de Rijk, alias Bruno Ernst, a Dutch physicist known for his works on M. C. Escher.
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of over 350 original drawings of impossible figures by Oscar Reutersvärd, as well as correspondence from/about Reutersvärd. Most of the correspondence is between J.A.F. "Hans" de Rijk (alias Bruno Ernst) and Oscar Reutersvärd, and the bulk of the correspondence is during the 1990s. The collection includes Ernst's research materials in preparation of an unfinished biography on Reutersvärd. Most of the materials in Box 1 are dated in the 1990s. Envelopes are placed in the folders with the correspondence. Boxes 3 and 4 (Oversize) are posters and prints.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged following original order.
Restrictions
Conditions Governing Access:
Minimally processed collection. Advance permission is required for access; use the Lilly Library's contact form to request permission.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice.
Conditions Governing Use:
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
Indexed Terms
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Subjects
- Art
- Biography
- Optical illusions in art
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Item], Reutersvärd, Oscar mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase: date unknown
Collection Inventory
Box 1
Typewritten text of lecture, correspondence, poster for talk
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings , 1995-1996
Box 1
Hommage to Bruno Ernst /Perspective japonaise
Quantity: 2 Folders
Box 1
Catalogue of Egyptian drawings and stereogram
Box 1
Reutersvärd's answer to "When and how did you finish your study of French impressionism?", picture of Enchanted chains
Box 1
Answer to "1954 you experimented with anaglyphs. Where did you live at that time and what was the inducement?", sketches from 1949 stay in Rome
Box 1
4 possibilities of diagonal stairs and 2 copies of Death Mask
Box 1
"The undue preponderance," Reutersvärd's speech given on his birthday and an article showing Reutersvärd's knitted works
Box 1
Death Mask, Reutersvärd's answers to more of Rijk's questions, A "triangle" of 3x6 cubes
Box 1
Hommage a Bruno Ernst, Perspective japonaise, and Labyrinth
Scope and Contents: 2 of Oscar Reutersvärd's stamps are on the envelope in this folder
Box 1
Parquet floor pattern and knitting
Box 1
Exhibit brochure, pictures of Reutersvärd as a schoolchild, and correspondence concerning SCA trademark
Box 1
Correspondence and photocopy of Escher's Impossible Waterfall
Box 1
Perspective japonaise, photocopy of Reutersvärd painting his sculpture in the botanic garden
Box 1
Reutersvärd's perspective drawings
Quantity: 3 Folders
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings and photocopy of Estonia, 8 iv 95, 29 iv 95
Box 1
Photos of Reutersvärd's oil paintings, Reutersvärd's family tree, correspondence
Box 1
Correspondence and photos
Box 1
Oscar Reutersvärd's skrifter: En bibliografi
Box 1
Perspective drawings
Quantity: 2 Folders
Box 1
Reutersvärd photos and technique , 1995-1996
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings
Scope and Contents: 2 of Oscar Reutersvärd's stamps are on the envelope in this folder
Box 1
Clippings and photocopies of Reutersvärd's work
Box 1
Reutersvärd's sketches and printouts
Box 1
Correspondence and photo of schoolmates
Box 1
Correspondence and photographs of Reutersvärd's oil paintings
Box 1
Correspondence and clippings , 1995
Box 1
Ritual Love-Making and Punishment in Egyptian Myths
Box 1
Interview with Reutersvärd and biographical material
Box 1
Correspondence and drawing
Box 1
Reutersvärd's obituaries, photos, drawing, and a letter from Reutersvärd's son to de Rijk stating his father passed away
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings
Box 1
Correspondence and photocopy of Trollare och andra underhållare
Box 1
Reutersvärd's biographical materials
Box 1
"A Mozart process: automatic creativity. Evolution in twenty steps"
Box 1
Reutersvärd on an impossible shape
Box 1
Correspondence, sketches, photocopies, and Egyptian drawings
Box 1
Sketch pad, "Reconstruction (1991) of Mozart process, 1941"
Box 1
Correspondence and drawings
Box 1
Sketch pad, "20 railway drawings for Bruno Ernst, Warszawa, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lund – Linköping, March 1993"
Box 2
Sketchpad, "A mon ami Bruno Ernst, 14 v 92"
Box 2
Sketchpad, "Hommage a Monsieur Hans de Rijk."
Box 2
Sketchpad, "homage a Monsieur B.R.N. de Ernst amicalement de Oscar Reutarsvärd"
Box 2
Correspondence between de Rijk and Reutersvärd , 1983-1990
Box 2
Correspondence between de Rijk and Reutersvärd , 1990-1994
Box 2
Correspondence between de Rijk and Reutersvärd , 1996-1998
Box 2
Writings, "ongedateerd I" and "ongedateerd II"
Box 3
Photograph of Oscar Reutersvärd
Box 3
Untitled, chalk and Indiana ink on Japanese rice paper, signed by the artist , 1937
Box 3
Perspective japonaise no. 466 aded, Indian ink on Japanese rice paper, signed by the artist
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer och Skulpturer, Envandringstutställning från Södertälje Kulturnamnd / Länskonstverksamheten, Stockholms länmuseum
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Monte Cristo, Örebro 9.11-8.12 1985 (pink)
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Monte Cristo, Örebro 9.11-8.12 1985 (purple)
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, amours et vengeances divines dans les mythes, égyptiens, galerie liliane françois, 8 février-1 mars 1977 15 rue de seine paris
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Kråkeslätt, 2-20 Sept. 1984 E-66 Bromölla-Sweden (blue)
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Kråkeslätt, 2-20 Sept. 1984 E-66 Bromölla-Sweden (blue)
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Kråkeslätt, 2-20 Sept. 1984 E-66 Bromölla-Sweden (yellow)
Box 4
Oscar Reutersvärd, Omöjliga Figurer, Galleri Kråkeslätt, 2-20 Sept. 1984 E-66 Bromölla-Sweden (pink)
Box 4
Untitled image of blue and red curtain
Box 4
Perspective japonaise no. 354 adac (staircase in gold, yellow, tan with blue background), no. 29 out of 200 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Perspective japonaise no. 315 mcea (staircase and two windows, blue and grey), no. 26 out of 50 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (violet), unnumbered, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (grey, blue, and tan staircase), no. 194 of 250 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (blue), no. 138 of 150 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (violet and purple), no. 161 of 190 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (lime green), no. 161 of 190 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (rose), no. 161 of 191 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (brown and tan staircase), no. 30 of 140 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Sverige 25 (blue), no. 43 of 55 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Untitled print (image of four windows, blue and grey), no. 16 of 21 copies, signed by the artist
Box 4
Épreuve d'artiste (proof copy), print (image of two green intersecting arrows), signed by the artist
Box 4
Épreuve d'artiste (proof copy), print (image turquoise), signed by the artist
Box 4
Épreuve d'artiste (proof copy), print (image blue and violet), signed by the artist
Box 4
Épreuve d'artiste (proof copy), engraving, signed by the artist
Box 4
Perspective japonaise no. 274 badhk, Indian ink and watercolor (greys with blue), signed by the artist
Box 4
Perspective japonaise no. 318 ab, Indiana ink and watercolor (purple staircase), signed by the artist