Penrose triangle
Oscar Reutersvärd; independently Lionel & Roger Penrose
Three convincing corners. One impossible connection.
Impossible objects / 1934 / modern drawing
Reutersvärd’s triangle
A triangle of blocks recalls Reutersvärd’s pioneering impossible figure.
TRY THIS
View larger, then trace one connected edge all the way through the object. Compare the local joins with the whole shape.
THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE
László Németh
Original file & attribution · CC0
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Download imageFrequently asked questions
What is Reutersvärd’s triangle?
A triangle of blocks recalls Reutersvärd’s pioneering impossible figure.
What should I look for in Reutersvärd’s triangle?
View larger, then trace one connected edge all the way through the object. Compare the local joins with the whole shape.
What explains Reutersvärd’s triangle?
Separate blocks seem to occupy a regular triangular arrangement, but the joins imply incompatible depth. This is a modern rendering of the 1934 idea, not the original sheet.
Another way to see it
Explore this category
Impossible cube
M. C. Escher; modern redraw by 4C and Belbury
A familiar cube frame acquires an impossible set of overlaps.
