The term trompe-l'œil was first used in 1800 by Louis-Léopold Boilly in the caption of his work.
Its name perfectly describes its purpose: to create optical illusions so convincing that they give the impression that three-dimensional objects exist on a two-dimensional surface.
Trompe l'oeil has its origins in antiquity, particularly in Roman painting, where artists painted frescoes to simulate architecture or landscapes. These works were designed to embellish walls and give a feeling of space, transforming interiors into real-life scenes. Over the centuries, this technique evolved, reaching its peak during the Renaissance. Although trompe l'oeil became increasingly rare from the 19th century onwards, when aesthetic and conceptual concerns took precedence, it nevertheless persisted in various forms and survived successive major trends.
Contemporary artists play with materials and our perceptions through a variety of techniques, even creating ephemeral works on sidewalks and walls to immerse passersby in a striking virtual reality.
It is an art that does not merely represent the world, but reinvents it, pushing us to see beyond the surface and question the very nature of reality. In a world where images are omnipresent, this technique reminds us of the importance of vision and illusion in our daily experience.
Trompe l'oeil has its origins in antiquity, particularly in Roman painting, where artists painted frescoes to simulate architecture or landscapes. These works were designed to embellish walls and give a feeling of space, transforming interiors into real-life scenes. Over the centuries, this technique evolved, reaching its peak during the Renaissance. Although trompe l'oeil became increasingly rare from the 19th century onwards, when aesthetic and conceptual concerns took precedence, it nevertheless persisted in various forms and survived successive major trends.
Contemporary artists play with materials and our perceptions through a variety of techniques, even creating ephemeral works on sidewalks and walls to immerse passersby in a striking virtual reality.
It is an art that does not merely represent the world, but reinvents it, pushing us to see beyond the surface and question the very nature of reality. In a world where images are omnipresent, this technique reminds us of the importance of vision and illusion in our daily experience.
