M.C. Escher Reflections 1997 Calendar

image shows the cover of a 1997 M.C. Escher calendar titled Reflections, featuring his 1946 lithograph Magic Mirror.  About the Artwork: Magic Mirror (1946)  In this enigmatic work, Escher explores the transition between two-dimensional representation and three-dimensional reality.  The Subject: The central focus is a vertical mirror standing on a tiled floor. A procession of mythical winged lions emerges from the mirror's surface, gradually becoming fully three-dimensional as they move away from it.   Visual Paradox: The mirror functions as both a reflective surface and a transparent window. Escher creates an alienating effect by showing a sphere both in front of and behind the mirror, while the reflection of the griffins continues to emerge from behind it.  The Cycle: After detaching from the mirror, the animals form an arc and eventually return to the mirror's surface, sliding back together like puzzle pieces into a flat, horizontal tessellation on the floor.