Metamorphosis II is a long, horizontal piece which depicts animals and other forms gradually transforming into each other.

Among other motifs, Metamorphosis II depicts an Italian village known to Escher, as well as a legible chess composition.

In Metamorphosis II, a structure jutting from Atrani's coastline becomes a white rook on a chessboard.

Black has played a queen sacrifice in order to secure mate following White's forced move.

Further, the black knight simultaneously attacks White's king and queen in the final position, thus delivering a royal fork.

In correspondence with his son George, Escher expressed concern as to the reasonableness of the position shown in his Metamorphoses.