Original woodcut by M.C. Escher, printed from the block and hand signed (initialed) by the artist. This original artwork comes from the book Emblemata, published in 1932 in cooperation with publisher Van Dishoeck.

Catalogue raisonné "Escher The Complete Graphic Work" by Locher et al, paperback edition 1992, page 228:

- Catalogue number: 163

- Title of the work: Anvil (Dutch: Aanbeeld)

- Date of creation: between March and June 1931

The edition size was 300 and the first 25 copies have been signed with all the prints in the book initialized by Escher. This page comes from one of those 25 examples.

The work itself measures 14x18 cm (approx 5.5x7.1 inch), the paper 20x23 cm and the passe-partout (matting) measures 30x40 cm (width x height).

The text of this emblema translates to “Without my resistance, steeled patience, your hand would be powerless, your action fruitless.”