Illusion Painting

What is illusion painting?

Illusion painting, also known as “Trompe-l’oeil” is an art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects exist in three dimensions.

In the form of wall and ceiling paintings, it expands the optics of architecture by an additional level: spaces appear larger and/or enable the view of fantasy landscapes.

The oldest preserved examples of illusion painting are known from Pompeii, Andrea Pozzo, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. They are three of the most prominent representatives of this art. Today, trompe l’oeil is especially used in the design of public spaces: Large-format facade art transforms plain spaces and captures the attention of the spectator.