title: How to make matplotlib.pyplot subplots that overlap?
body: <p>I am learning how to use subplots. For example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>import numpy
  import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  plt.figure(1)
  plt.subplot(221)
  plt.subplot(222)
  plt.subplot(223)
  
  plt.show()
  
  plt.close(1)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I am getting 3 subplots in figure1</p>
  
  <p>Now I want to make a large subplot with the other subplots within the first one. I tried:</p>
  
  <pre><code>plt.figure(1)
  plt.subplot(111)
  plt.subplot(222)
  plt.subplot(223)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But the first subplot disappears. </p>
  
  <p>My question: is it possible to overlap subplots? </p>
  
  <p>thank you</p>