Discover how artists have been tricking the human eye for centuries in this gorgeous and wide-ranging exploration of the art of illusion.

This spellbinding look at the history and development of illusionistic art reveals wide-ranging techniques that have piqued the public s fascination with this medium. Beautifully reproduced, the images featured in the book includes centuries-old work such as the scenery at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza, Italy, and the ceiling frescos at the Würzburg Residence in Germany, that showcase processes such as trompe l oeil and anamorphosis.

It also features work from the 20th and 21st centuries, including René Magritte s classic Surrealist works; M.C. Escher s magical and mathematically precise drawings; the seemingly undulating paintings of Bridget Riley; the manipulated photography of Andreas Gursky; Duane Hanson s eerily lifelike sculptures; JR s larger-than-life portrait photographs; and Georges Rousse s mind-bending constructions.

The book also has examples of amazing street art including subway graffiti and a sidewalk painting that makes pedestrians think twice. This extraordinary and informative guide to all kinds of artistic trickery will satisfy scholars as well as everyday fans.