Is there any connection between Donald Trump and M.C.
Escher? I mean the U.S. presidential candidate and the Dutch craftsman. (By the
way he is my favorite graphic artist.) You say that it is impossible? O.K. The key
figure is nobody else but Mick Jagger. I read in the news, that the Rolling Stones have told
Donald Trump to stop playing their songs during his presidential campaign. The
band have issued a statement saying that the presidential candidate does not
have permission to use the band's music.
In the beginning of 1969, Mick Jagger wrote a letter to Escher
asking him to provide an image for the Rolling Stones' forthcoming record
cover. Here is his letter:
Dear Maurits,
For quite some time now I have had in my possession your
book (Graphic Works Of...) and it never ceases to amaze me each time I study
it! In fact I think your work is quite incredible and it would make me very
happy for a lot more people to see and know and understand exactly what you are
doing. In March or April this year, we have scheduled our next LP record for
release, and I am most eager to reproduce one of your works on the
cover-sleeve. Would you please consider either designing a "picture"
for it, or have you any unpublished works which you might think suitable -the
"optical illusion" idea very much appeals to me, although one like
"Evolution" would of course be equally as suitable. -and would say
the same thing. You might even like to do a long one like
"Metamorphosis" which we could then reproduce as a folding-out
sleeve. It could be either in one colour or full colour, that would be up to
you entirely. Naturally, both you and your publishers would get full credits on
the sleeve, and we could negotiate a fee on hearing of your decision to do it.
I would be most grateful if you could contact Peter Swales or Miss Jo Bergman
at the above address or telephone (reverse charge), and either will give you
every necessary assistance. However, I am not so fortunate as to possess a
Dutch interpreter, and so if you do not speak English or French, I would again
be grateful if you could fix up somebody in Baarn to oblige.Yours very sincerely,
Mick Jagger (for ROLLING STONES LTD.)
Here is Escher's response:
Dear Sir [addressed to Mr. Peter Swales],
Some days ago I received a letter from Mr. Jagger asking me
to design a picture or to place at his disposal unpublished work to reproduce
on the cover-sleeve for an LP record. My answer to both questions must be no,
as I want to devote all my time and attention to the many commitments I made; I
cannot possibly accept any further assignments or spend any time on publicity.By the way, please tell Mr. Jagger I am not Maurits to him, but
Very sincerely,
M. C. Escher
(Conundrum: We know that Jagger is an Escher fan, and Escher is
NOT a Stones fan, and Trump is a Stones fun, and Stones is NOT a Trump fun. I wonder if Trump is familiar with the work of Escher. Maybe he is an Escher fun too. But it is hard to imagine Escher to be a Trump fun. Not only because he does not live.)
