Original print, 1931. Original woodcut on Japanese paper (26.6 x 17.8 cm). In passe-partout.

A fine example of the art of Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972). In 1931, the art historian and director of the Dutch Historical Institute in Rome, G. J. Hoogewerff, contacted Escher for a new project: modern emblemata, in the style of the 17th century Dutch emblemata, being four-lined epigrams - with a single illustration and a Latin motto - of an allegorical, esoteric and philosophical nature. Escher contributed 24 woodblock designs, each combined with Hoogewerff's text. This most probably is a proof of one of these designs, known by the Dutch name "Vlieger" (kite) - the principal object in this work. The Latin text above could be translated as "Shining high, followed by nothing". The Dutch text below reads: "Push me, an upward force, a force that ties me down, an aimless thing to the eye, [a] lofty toy of a child". In 1932, the complete series was published in a limited edition book titled XXIV Emblemata. Interestingly, for this book Hoogewerff used a pseudonym: "Drijfhout". This is a fairly common Dutch name that means "driftwood". Two versions of "Kite" were made; the other (Bool 155) at the same time as this one. However, it is much narrower, and therefore deviates from Escher's other "Emblemata" designs in width. This Escher print has a paper size - and thus a margin size - considerably larger than usual. However, it appears to be printed on the same Japanese paper used in the published book. As noted, this probably indicates that this is a proof print. Copies extracted from the book have three groups of two holes, from the binding. This copy has no holes, so it must be from before binding. Escher's monogram in the top centre, below "nihil". Corners glued to passe-partout at the back. Regular pinpoint spotting, a tiny, marginal tear; otherwise, a very good copy. Bool 165.