M.C. Escher's Day and Night Print

The item depicted is a framed print of M.C. Escher's iconic woodcut, 'Day and Night,' created in 1938. The print is monochrome, primarily featuring stark black and white contrasts with varying shades of gray achieved through intricate line work and cross-hatching. The composition famously showcases a gradual metamorphosis from a flock of white geese flying over a black, nighttime landscape on the left to an equal flock of black geese flying over a white, daytime landscape on the right. In the center, the interlocking bird shapes create a tessellation that seamlessly transitions between the two scenes. The background details reveal an aerial view of a Dutch landscape, complete with fields, houses, and waterways, rendered with meticulous precision. The fields exhibit a checkered pattern, some areas with darker shading indicating possibly cultivated or forested land. The print appears to be housed within a simple, light-colored frame, possibly natural wood or a painted finish, though details of the frame are limited. There is a notable glare on the surface of the glass or acrylic covering the print, obscuring some central details. The overall condition appears good, with no obvious signs of significant damage to the print itself, such as tears, creases, or major discoloration, although fine details are hard to assess due to image quality and reflection. The characteristic optical illusion and masterful tessellation demonstrate Escher's unique artistic style, placing it within the Surrealism or Magic Realism art movements, and firmly in the 20th-century art period. This is likely a reproduction rather than an original woodcut, given the common availability of Escher prints.

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