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Optical illusions & the art of seeing

Explore optical illusions, impossible objects and illusion art with pictures, viewing instructions and explanations. Follow the science and history behind each example, from classic visual puzzles to fractals and camouflage in nature and human design.

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The collection

The Holy Trinity — A wall painting opens into an apparently deep chapel.

The Holy Trinity

Masaccio

A wall painting opens into an apparently deep chapel.

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The Librarian — A learned figure assembled from books and the equipment of reading.

The Librarian

Giuseppe Arcimboldo

A learned figure assembled from books and the equipment of reading.

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An animated red-and-green ring with striped surfaces whose apparent depth can reverse.Moving image

Ambiguous Ring

Donald E. Simanek

You should experience a sense of perceptual confusion as you note the paradoxical nature of the depicted ring.

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A pale blue drawing of connected corners whose locally plausible edges cannot form a consistent solid.

Impossible Corners

Oscar Reutersvärd (1915 - 2002), Swedish graphic artist

You should experience a sense of perceptual confusion as you note the paradoxical nature of the corners.

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Identical gray patches displayed on contrasting light and dark backgrounds.

Simultaneous contrast

Longstanding phenomenon; studied by Michel Eugène Chevreul

One gray looks light; the same gray looks dark.

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Triumph of the Name of Jesus — Figures and clouds appear to overflow the ceiling’s golden frame.

Triumph of the Name of Jesus

Giovanni Battista Gaulli (Baciccio)

Figures and clouds appear to overflow the ceiling’s golden frame.

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Apollonian Gasket — Tangent circles fill gaps with smaller and smaller circles.

Apollonian Gasket

Classical circle geometry; later mathematical development

Tangent circles fill gaps with smaller and smaller circles.

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A person crouches beside a colourful pavement painting that appears to open into a deep landscape.

Pandora

Tracy Lee Stum, an American artist

You should have the visual experience of a man riding a mythical bird. However, although the man is real, the bird is just a cleverly constructed 2D drawing on the pavement.

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Enlarged image from the selected gallery entry