Trompe l'oeil

Trompe l'oeil (pronounced as "trum ploy"), literally meaning "trick the eye" in french, is an art technique that creates and employs an apparently realistic image as a type of optical illusion.

Related Topics:
Art - Optical illusion

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Although the phrase has its origin in the Baroque period, use of trompe l'oeil dates back much further. It refers usually to paintings that are done on objects (usually walls) created with a deliberate attempt at creating false perspectives and effects. For example, if there were a door on one end of a wall, a trompe l'oeil painting might be done at the other end, complete with effects of persons peeping through it; or a blank wall might be painted as a representation of a view outside.

Related Topics:
Baroque - Painting - Perspective

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Trompe l'oeil can also be found painted on tables and other items of furniture, where it may look like cards in a game which is being played out, but in reality the eye is being tricked with an image.

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Trompe l'oeil effects can also be found painted on the exterior walls of buildings.

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Trompe l'oeil is employed in Donald O'Connors famous 'Running up the wall' scene in "Singin' in the Rain". During the finale of his "Make 'em Laugh" number he first runs up a real wall. Then he runs towards what appears to be a hallway but when he runs up this as well we realize that it is a large trompe l'oeil mural.

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Trompe l'oeil is also featured in many episodes of Looney Tunes, such as the Road Runner cartoons, where Wile E. Coyote paints a tunnel on a rock wall and the road runner races through the fake tunnel. This is usually followed by the coyote foolishly trying to run through the tunnel after the road runner, only to smash into the hard rock.

Related Topics:
Looney Tunes - Road Runner cartoon

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