A trick of the eye

From its eye-popping cover to the last page, this collection of optical illusion, hyperrealism, and visual puns is a fun and fascinating exploration of five centuries of trompe l’oeil paintings. Each of the forty paintings in this book is presented twice—a first glimpse of the painting captures one reality, and then a subsequent view reveals the visual deception within. In this way readers are introduced to some of the tricks artists have skillfully and playfully deployed over the years to manipulate spatial perception. A Trick of the Eye includes examples of trompe l’oeil pieces from Renaissance masters such as van Eyck and Veronese to modern works by Rene Magritte and Duane Hanson, among many others. Engaging texts describe each work, but the real magic is in the illustrations, which offer an intriguing visual experience.