Art a n d Illusion

Chapter 4.5

By: Patricia FigueroaBrian Scott Langdon

Josannah RosarioAlec West

Introduction– Trompe I’oeil: “fool the eye”• French term for two dimensional artworks that

convincingly appear to be three dimensional objects

– Originates from a competition between Zeuxis and Parrhasius to create convincing Illusion

– Some artists have created illusions within their architecture

Introduction– Trompe I’oeil: “fool the eye”• French term for two dimensional artworks that

convincingly appear to be three dimensional objects

– Originates from a competition between Zeuxis and Parrhasius to create convincing Illusion

– Some artists have created illusions within their architecture

Art as an Illusionistic Window

Oculus: A round opening at the center of a dome

Putti or Putto: A representation of a nude or scantily clad infant angel or boy, common in renaissance and baroque art

TrickeryIllusion as

For example, Australian artist Ron Mueck infuses his sculptures with life. He patiently recreates each hair, wrinkle and pore on his sculptures

For example the stylobate or the platform which the columns stand would appear to sag if it were constructed as a precisely straight horizontal line. 

Another example is the entasis, which is the swelling at the midpoint of the columns, creates that horizontal line. 

Illusion

and theTransformation

of Ideas

ThemeMeaning– Looking at things from a different

perspective– Breaking the mold– Becoming individualized

Significance– Change traditional methods of art– Change how art is looked at– Give new meaning to things

Appeal - New challenge to artists and viewers to demonstrate and determine messages

The Human Condition (1933)Rene Magritte

• Visual Analysis– Depicts a window looking out onto a field.– On closer inspection a painting of the scene can be

seen.– The painting seems to depict a covered section of the

outdoor scene.– Both the scene and the painting within the painting are

fabricated; however, due to the mind one labels one real and the other fake, even though neither are.

• Context– Modern work, dated 1933.– More contemporary, however contains surrealist

content.

• Function– Meant to change how painting is looked at, how it

doesn’t have to be perfect representation.– Shows how narrow minded renaissance painters

were, and people in general can be.– Both fabricated scenes are meant to show how the

mind works, declaring things that are not always true.

• Reflection of Theme– Gives the viewer a reason to try and figure out the

message in a new way.– Forces us to think, not only about the painting, but

about reality as well.

T H E

E N D