Whether they're drawn from nature or art, optical illusions can amaze,
amuse, confuse, and fool the viewer. They remind us that we do not see
the world as it is, but only filtered through our own perceptions. This
stunning collection captures the full breadth of the form, from
composite images and trompe l'oeil to tricks of perspective and the
absolutely impossible. There are ambiguous illusions with multiple
meanings, depending on how you look, such as Dance with Me: Can you see
the ominous face gazing at a happy couple dancing among the trees? If
you want to glimpse the magic in a topsy-turvy illusion, just rotate the
page to reveal some hidden imagery. Viewed one way, The Mysterious
Island, painted by Hungarian artist István Orosz, shows a small ship
sailing through an opening in some rocks. But turn it upside down and
instead there's a portrait of the great author Jules Verne! And of
course, there are illusions where things seem to be the same size when
they're really not and others that seem to be in motion when, of course,
they're completely still.
From a twice-as-beautiful-as-one double rainbow to a fully intact wall
that appears to have crumbled, these mysterious illusions will fascinate
and enchant anyone who loves art, science, and magic.
