Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972)'Reptiles', unsigned, March 1943, lithograph. H. 33 cm. W. 38.5 cm. More examples of unsigned (trial prints) are known. For example, the reptiles print in the collection of the largest Escher museum, Escher in Het Paleis (Escher in The Palace), The Hague, is unsigned as well.Provenance: Jan Reinier Voûte (1908-1993). Voûte was a lawyer and founded with Van der Feltz one of the most important law firms in Amsterdam: Van der Feltz & Voûte. He was also a member of the Provincial States of North Holland, and a member of the First Chamber of the States General of the Netherlands. He held other positions as well. He was for example member of the Waller Fund (one of the largest funds which enable the Rijksmuseum to acquire prints), the Paper Research Foundation, the Voûte Association and Chairman of the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam. Voûte was an important collector of prints and began collecting in 1959. His collection included a large amount of etchings by Rembrandt (82) and many other Dutch 17th century artists, but also graphic works by 19th and 20th century artists like Cézanne, Daubigny, Pissarro, Renoir, Signac, Sisley and Picasso.Literature: 'Leven en werk van M.C. Escher' by Bool et al., Meulenhoff Amsterdam, no. 327.