“Op” Art And Optical Illusions

What is “Op” Art? “Op” is short for optical. Optical means having to do with the eye. As in Optometrist, optician, optics… Optical Illusions and Optical art are also referred to as “Trompe de l’oeil or trompe l’oeil, which is French for “to trick the eye”.

Trompe L’oeil

“Optical Illusion.” Is the ball moving?

Are the balls white or gray?

Op Art began in the 1960’s. Optical Art is a mathematically-themed form of Abstract art, Abstract meaning it doesn’t have to look like something.  

What is “Op Art?” The point of optical art is to confuse the eye. There is no other subject.

more “Op Art.”

In Op art, the dark colors recede while the light colors advance. Look at this picture again: In Op art, the dark colors recede while the light colors advance.

M.C. Escher is most famous for his optical illusions and impossible architecture

M.C. Escher (Maurits Cornelis Escher)

Escher’s impossible architecture

Or, not so impossible!