Art of Illusion

Heine Florian

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 Wurzburg Residence in Germany, that showcase processes such as trompe l'oeil and anamorphosis. It also features work from the 20th and 21st centuries, including Rene 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.

About the author

Florian Heine is a photographer, art historian, author and publisher. As an author he has written several books about art and photography. Florian Heine was responsible for the script of the TV-series "The first time – How new things came into art", that is based upon one of his books, and he has even stood in front of the camera as an expert for the arts. As a photographer he works in the fields of art, advertising, and industry. He has written many books for Prestel, for both children and adults, including "13 Art Inventions Children Should Know" and "Photography: Groundbreaking Moments".