Illusory Collection

Ouchi illusion. The central circular area of perpendicularly orientated bars appears to move and float compared to the surrounding pattern

Hollow-face illusion, artwork
Hollow-face illusion, computer artwork. This is an optical illusion where the perception of a concave (hollow) mask of a face appears as a normal convex (protruding) face

Hollow-face illusion, artwork
Hollow-face illusion, computer artwork. This is an optical illusion where the perception of a concave (hollow) mask of a face appears as a normal convex (protruding) face

Goblet illusion. This image is simultaneously a drawing of a goblet and two faces. When there are two competing interpretations of an ambiguous image the brain will often switch between them

Penrose stairs, artwork
Penrose stairs, computer artwork. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose and used by M C Escher in his illustration Ascending and Descending

Impossible triangle, artwork
Impossible triangle, computer artwork. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose. Impossible figures are objects that can be drawn but not created

Penrose stairs, artwork
Penrose stairs. Computer artwork of Einstein characters climbing a set of Penrose stairs. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose

Wundt illusion. This illusion was created by the psychologist Willhelm Wundt in the 19th century. It is the exact opposite of the Hering illusion

Ponzos illusion. The vertical red line to the left of the image appears to be smaller than the one to the right. In fact they are the same length

Illusionist magic show by Pharos, with fake decapitation. Date: circa 1900s

TraumSchiff
Jürgen Muß

Young Japanese Girl in the Rain, c. 1900 (hand coloured photo)
CHT170111 Young Japanese Girl in the Rain, c.1900 (hand coloured photo) by Japanese Photographer (20th century); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

The ghost of a mans wife appears before him, c. 1870 (b / w photo)
CHT157395 The ghost of a mans wife appears before him, c.1870 (b/w photo) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

A Zoetrope band depicting a cyclist (coloured engraving)
CHT175001 A Zoetrope band depicting a cyclist (coloured engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

Ehrenstein illusion, square in circles
Ehrensteins illusion - a square in concentric circles. This is one of a number of illusions studied by Walter Ehrenstein. The sides of a square placed inside concentric circles appear to curve

Equestrian Monument of Sir John Hawkwood (1320-94), 1436 (fresco transferred to canvas)
XAL55437 Equestrian Monument of Sir John Hawkwood (1320-94), 1436 (fresco transferred to canvas) by Uccello, Paolo (1397-1475); Duomo, Florence

America, one of the Four Continents from the ceiling of the Treppenhaus
XIR30573 America, one of the Four Continents from the ceiling of the Treppenhaus, 1750-53 (fresco) (see also 112348 and 168392) by Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista (Giambattista) (1696-1770); Residenz

Trompe l Oeil Portrait of a Lady (oil on canvas)
XIR173087 Trompe l Oeil Portrait of a Lady (oil on canvas) by Colyer or Collier, Edwaert (c.1640-c.1707); 64.5x33 cm; Ateneum Art Museum, Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki, Finland; Dutch

Still life with portrait of King Louis XIV (1638-1715) surrounded by musical instruments
XIR167871 Still life with portrait of King Louis XIV (1638-1715) surrounded by musical instruments, flowers and fruit, 1672 (oil on canvas) by Garnier

Europe, one of the Four Continents from the ceiling of the Treppenhaus
BAL112348 Europe, one of the Four Continents from the ceiling of the Treppenhaus, 1750-53 (fresco) (see also 30573 and 168392) by Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista (Giambattista) (1696-1770); Residenz

Red flying object in the grey sky, 3D computer graphics

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

Square illusion - subdivision leads to apparent enlargement. There are three squares of identical area. However, the middle square appears to be wider than it is tall

Impossible rectangle. This is an impossible object - one that can be drawn in 2 dimensions but not created

Illusory contours forming circles. This illusion demonstrates the false perception of areas of increased brightness. Lines are apparently joined to bright circles. In fact no such circles exist

Circle in a square illusion. The two red circles in the image are the same size. However, the one inside a blue square looks larger than the one enclosing a blue square

Hering illusion. This illusion was created by the physiologist Edward Hering in the 19th century. It exploits the brains understanding of perspective to fool it into thinking that the two horizontal

Bullseye illusion. The blue shaded area in the centre of the circle appears larger than the blue perimeter area. In fact they are the same area. This is easily proven by calculation

Framing colour illusion
Framing colours illusion. Black borders around colours enhance their brightness and prevent clashing. The colours in the pattern on the left appear to be brighter and bolder than those on the right

Poggendorff illusion. The two red lines crossing the blue bar are colinear. Many people see them as being offset. There are still no satisfactory explanations as to why this should be the case

Three arc illusion. The three arcs shown give the impression of belonging to circles of increasing radius when viewed from top to bottom. They actually come from circles of the same radius

Square illusion - orientation changes perception of size. The two squares are identical. However, the one on the left appears larger because it has been rotated through 45 degrees

Impossible trident. This uses the fact that a rectangular bar can be represented in 2 dimensions by 3 lines, whereas a cylinder requires 2. So we have 3 cylinders blending into 2 rectangular bars

Delboeuf illusion. An illusion created by the Belgian philosopher Franz Joseph Delboeuf. The two red circles on the left have the same diameter, as do the two red circles on the right

Angle illusion. The red angle marked on the left appears to be larger than the red angle on the right. In fact they are the same size

Square illusion - vertical lines appear longer
Square illusion. The shape on the right hand side is a square whilst the one on the left, which is slightly shorter, is not. However many people believe it to be the other way round

Orbison illusion. Both the rectangle surrounding the pattern and the perfect square within the pattern appear to be distorted

Cafe wall illusion. This illusion is so named because it was first noticed on a tiled wall in a Bristol cafe. The pattern in the image appears to show sloping grey lines between the black

Simultaneous contrast example. The green squares look brighter on the left, where they are in yellow bands, compared to the right, where they are in blue bands

Zoellner illusion. The vertical lines are parallel but seem to be tilted. There are 2 theories as to why this is the case

Hermann-Hering illusion
Hermann grid illusion. The intersections of the white horizontal and vertical lines in this image appear to be grey. But when looked at directly they are clearly white

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"

Ehrenstein illusion - illusory contours forming circles. Created in 1954 by the psychologist Walter Ehrenstein, this illusion demonstrates the false perception of areas of increased brightness

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

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

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Step into the world of illusions, where reality bends and perception is challenged. From the mesmerizing Hollow-face illusion artwork to the mind-boggling Penrose stairs, prepare to have your senses deceived. Intricate designs play tricks on our minds as we gaze upon the Hollow-face illusion artwork. What appears concave is actually convex, leaving us questioning what we see before us. The Goblet illusion captivates with its clever manipulation of depth and perspective. Is it a goblet or two faces? The answer lies in how our brains interpret this captivating optical puzzle. Venture further into the realm of impossibilities with the Penrose stairs artwork. Ascending endlessly yet never reaching a destination, these perplexing steps challenge our understanding of space and logic. The Ouchi illusion takes shape as lines intertwine and colors blend seamlessly, creating an ever-shifting image that dances before our eyes. It's like witnessing magic unfold right in front of us. Feast your eyes on the Impossible triangle artwork - a paradoxical masterpiece that defies geometry itself. Its three sides seem connected but are forever disconnected, leaving us marveling at its enigmatic nature. Once again, we encounter the mystifying Penrose stairs in another piece of artistry. Our minds struggle to comprehend their existence as they twist and turn without end - an eternal loop that confounds even the most astute observer. Enter Wundt's domain where parallel lines appear to converge against all reason; an optical trickery that challenges our innate sense of perspective and distance. Ponzo's illusion plays with scale and context - two identical objects appearing different due to their surroundings. Our brain falls victim to this visual deception time after time, revealing just how easily fooled we can be. And here it comes again – Ponzo's illusion returns for another round. This time showcasing its ability to manipulate size perception through converging lines; reminding us not everything is as it seems.