Trompe l’oeil

Trompe-l’œil – (English spelling trompe l’oeil) – is an art technique that creates the optical illusion of three dimensional space using realistic imagery.

It originates in classical times with examples seen in Greek and Roman art. It was also used during the Renaissance, particularly to create the optical effect of space in domed ceilings, and some artists experimented with adding small trompe l’oeil features to their paintings, playing with the boundary between the image and reality.

It became particularly popular during the Baroque period where the style was used in church ceiling paintings and in Flemish and Dutch still life paintings. It could also be used on furniture, for example a table painted with a deck of cards that looked as if they’d been left out.

It was also widely used in theatre to create sets to create the effect of a much deeper space than the stage.