Illusion Collection (#15)

Art Science Museum and city skyline from Marina Bay, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Asia

School of fish formed into a heart shape, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

USA, Glass beads give the illusion of floating in air

USA, Washington, Bellevue. Christmas lights zoomed

USA, Glass bead gives the illusion of floating in air

Magic hammer of good luck in Japanese mythology
UCHIDE-NO-KOZUCHI. Magic hammer of good luck in Japanese mythology

CHESS: AUTOMATON, 1845. Wolfgang von Kempelens The Turk, a chess playing automaton, created c1770. Wood engraving, English, 1845

THE DEVILS Astaroth, Abaddon, and Mammon: line engraving, English, 1800

Illusion. Print shows two men and two women sitting on the ground staring in disbelief at a wizard with an attendant floating on a cloud; corresponds to chapter 41 of the Tale of Genji. Date 1857

Optical illusion disc with a face catching a ball and a man with blackface taking a bow. Date 1833

Optical illusion disc with birds, butterflies, and a man jumping. Date 1833

Optical illusion disc with two men throwing and catching cakes and stars. Date 1833

Optical illusion disc with man pumping water. Date 1833

Optical illusion disc with man and frog. Date 1833

Joan Crawford by Keye Luke
An optical illusion created by Japanese artist, Keye Luke with the face of actress Joan Crawford created in black and white

Maurice Chevalier by Keye Luke
An optical illusion created by Japanese artist, Keye Luke with the face of actor Maurice Chevalier created in black and white

Clark Gable by Keye Luke
An optical illusion created by Japanese artist, Keye Luke with the face of actor Clark Gable created in black and white. By staring at the four dots between Gables eyes

A false Paris outside Paris: A city created to be bombed, 1920
A page from the Illustrated London News, 1920, illustrating a sham Paris, created to trick German pilots flying at night into thinking they were bombing Paris during World War One

Norma Shearer by Keye Luke
An optical illusion created by Japanese artist, Keye Luke with the face of actress Norma Shearer created in black and white

Sketch front cover with Greta Garbo, 1934
Greta Garbo reflected in quadruple wearing a Chinese-influenced dress of white blister crepe with jade and silver ornaments on the shoulders

Peppers Ghost

Face on Mars. Computer artwork of the Face on Mars feature. This eroded mesa-like land formation, located in the Cydonia region of Mars, is 1.5 kilometres across

Scintillating grid illusion. This illusion, based on the Hermann grid, was created in 1994. When the grid is observed, the white dots at the intersection of the grey lines appear to scintillate

Computer artwork of an impossible triangle
Impossible triangle. Abstract computer artwork of a triangle, made from 3 sections of tower block, which would be impossible to construct because it breaks the laws of artistic perspective

Penrose stairway. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose and used by M C Escher in his illustration " Ascending and Descending"

Nostradamuss Magic Mirror. Nostradamus (at right, 1503-1566) was a French physician and astrologer. Here he is using a magic mirror to foretell the future to Catherine de Medicis (1519-1589)

White wine in a bottle and glass

Cockroach locomotion research. Researcher observes a Madagascan giant hissing cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) on miniature obstacle course

Light pillars, Russia
Light pillars in the sky. Some scientists ascribe this unusual optical phenomenon to the reflection of light in ice crystals that form in the frosty air. Photographed in Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia

Desert mirage, 1854 artwork
Desert mirage. Artwork published in 1854 of a mirage in a desert, giving the impression of a pool of water where none exists

Impossible figure, artwork
Impossible figure. Computer artwork of a mug on a piece of paper, both with impossible figures drawn on them. Impossible figures are objects that can be drawn but not created

Distortion of the Sun, 17th century
Distortions of the Sun. 17th century diagram explaining how the disc of the Sun appears distorted when seen close to the horizon

Sunset. Montage image of the sun setting on the horizon, creating a mirage of the sun melting at its lower edge

TRAVELERS INSURANCE TOWER. The Travelers Insurance Tower in Hartford, Connecticut seemingly surrounded by flying saucers. Viewed upside down

HARNETT: STILL LIFE, 1885. Oil on panel by William Michael Harnett, 1885

SILENT FILM STILL: DANCING. Thelma Todd and Charlie Chase

THURSTON: POSTER, 1935. American poster of magician Howard Thurston performing his levitation illusion

MARK WILSON: POSTER, 1975. American poster of magician Mark Wilsons levitation illusion

USA, Alaska, Gates of the Arctic National Preserve Northern lights (Aurora borealis) over the Endicott Mountains, Brooks Range

Conjuror entertains a crowd
Louis-Philippe, proclaimed citizen king of France at the July revolution of 1830, is shown as a street conjuror, entertaining the crowds. HPG/8/2/1 (xi)

Magician performing the cup and balls trick in front of a se
Undated illustration of a magician performing the cup and balls trick in front of a seated audience, entitled " Champy dit Connus". HPG/8/2/1 (xxxi)"

Thaumaturgick exhibitions, optical illusions and deceptions
Playbill for performance of " thaumaturgick exhibitions, optical illusions and magical deceptions" by Mr Boaz at the Kings Arms, High Street

Magician performing the cup and balls trick to a small crowd
Undated illustration of magician performing the cup and balls trick to a small crowd, entitled " Rien dan les mains rien dans les peches je ne vous trompe pas mais..." (a Paris chez Albert)

Magician performing the cup and balls trick to an assembled
Undated illustration of magician performing the cup and balls trick to an assembled crowd, entitled " Le Joueur de Gobelets". HPG/8/2/1 (xxxvi)"

Playbill for Maskelyne & Cooke magical variety show
Playbill for performances of the show The Novelty of the Age, featuring magicians Maskelyne and Cooke, held at Berkley Castle, Blackpool, January 1870

Indian Rope Trick Poster
Undated coloured poster featuring illustration of Thurston, the famous magician, performing the East Indian rope-trick. HPF/5B/17

Great Wizard of the North Performing his Celebrated Tricks
Undated copy of engraving, " The Great Wizard of the North Performing his Celebrated Trick of Pouring Four Different Liquids From One Bottle". HPG/8/2/1 (vi)"

Mr Maskelynes experiment - female spirit emerging from man
A photographic example of Mr Maskelynes experiment - a mechanical illusion of spiritual manifestations. Miss Cassie Brucea can be seen emerging from her father-in-laws body

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"Unveiling the Illusion: From Blossom to Decay, a Journey of Perception" Step into the world where reality and imagination intertwine. In London, England, UK, Banksy's thought-provoking street art challenges our perception of society. Meanwhile, at Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa, nature paints an enchanting picture with waterfalls and rainbows that seem almost too perfect to be real. Delve deeper into the realm of illusions with Co's "Trompe l'oeil, " a masterpiece from 1670 that tricks our eyes into believing we are looking at something entirely different. Travel back in time to 1863 when French illusionist Henri Robin captured a ghostly apparition in a spirit photograph by Eugène Thiébault. Experience the Pepper's Ghost Illusion where specters seemingly materialize before your eyes. Marvel at Penrose stairs artwork that defies logic and challenges our understanding of space and perspective. Witness the breathtaking sight of a rainbow over Uig Sands (Traigh Chapadail) or Iceland's majestic Gullfoss waterfall cascading down steep canyons. But illusions aren't limited to visual arts alone; they also grace theatrical performances like Bald Prima Donna from the 20th century – an absurd yet captivating play that blurs reality and fiction seamlessly. And let us not forget about impossible shapes like the Impossible Triangle artwork or Icelands most famous waterfall Gullfoss tumbling down endlessly in its mesmerizing beauty. In this world filled with illusions, we question what is real and what is merely smoke and mirrors. It reminds us that sometimes things are not as they seem – whether it be fleeting blossoms turning into decay or ghosts haunting photographs. So embrace these moments of wonderment as you navigate through life's intricate web of illusionary delights.