Anamorphism Optical Illusions

One of the most popular optical illusions that have made its place in the world of art is the anamorphism optical illusion. This art-form is in use since 1500 and still people are greatly amazed when they look at a piece of art where anamorphism optical illusion is used. Anamorphism is a very ancient technique of painting. According to some of the art historians, this technique was used in cave painting of Lascaux. In anamorphism, the distortion of an image happens and the image appears perspective when looked at from one particular angle only. E.g. in Lascaux, the horses and the bison are painted on the wall in distorted manner and these look perfectly ok when one looks at them from the floor below. The sculpture of David made by Michelangelo was made in such a manner that the head and the upper body portion is larger than the lower body part so when people look at it, it gives the illusion of a normal body. One good example of anamorphosis is the painting, The Ambassadors, created by Hans Holbein. This painting was created in 1553. In it two dressed men are standing in a room with some royal symbols. The globes, sundials and astronomical instruments are created in flattened manner and the painting is marred b y a white and gray smudge across the bottom. When a person walks down and to the side of the painting, it gets resolved into a three-dimensional skull.