throughmirrorA different way of seeing
The Reverse of a Framed Painting — The front of a painting pretends to be its back.
Look closely. Let the image settle.
Illusions in painting / c. 1670

The Reverse of a Framed Painting

The front of a painting pretends to be its back.

TRY THIS

Study the wooden supports and canvas edges. You are looking at a painted representation of a painting’s reverse.

FOLLOW THE SOURCES

History, evidence & image credit

THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts

Original file & attribution · Public domain

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Frequently asked questions

What is The Reverse of a Framed Painting?

The front of a painting pretends to be its back.

What should I look for in The Reverse of a Framed Painting?

Study the wooden supports and canvas edges. You are looking at a painted representation of a painting’s reverse.

What explains The Reverse of a Framed Painting?

A familiar surface is represented at shallow depth. The expected boundary between a painting and its physical support becomes the subject of the illusion.

Another way to see it

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The Reverse of a Framed Painting — The front of a painting pretends to be its back.

The Reverse of a Framed Painting