The image is a vintage illustration depicting the phases of Mercury as seen before inferior conjunction, when it appears as an evening star. It shows a series of five depictions of Mercury, progressing from a full circle to a crescent shape. The first depiction is a full, dark circle. The second is a slightly elongated circle with a small shadowed portion. The third is a half-circle, with a more pronounced shadowed portion. The fourth is a crescent shape, with a large shadowed portion. The fifth is a very thin crescent, almost a sliver, with most of it shadowed. The background is a solid black, creating a stark contrast with the white/light gray depictions of Mercury. Below the illustrations, the text 'PHASES OF MERCURY BEFORE INFERIOR CONJUNCTION—EVENING STAR.' is printed in a vintage font. The overall style is reminiscent of astronomical illustrations from the late 19th or early 20th century.