“The 4th Day of the Creation” is a surrealistic landscape artwork created by M.C. Escher in 1926, as part of his “Creation Story” series.
The artwork vividly captures the celestial events of the fourth day of creation, as recounted in the biblical Genesis account. Dominating the foreground is a jagged, mountainous terrain that undulates in stark, monochromatic contrast. Above this landscape, the radiant sun on the left side of the artwork casts its intricate beams across the sky, while on the right, a partially illuminated moon is suspended among a scattering of stars and celestial bodies. The stark black and white palette enhances the surreal and otherworldly atmosphere of the piece, showcasing Escher’s masterful use of light and shadow to convey a sense of cosmic grandeur and divine order.