Masters of Deception: Escher, Dalí & the Artists of Optical Illusion

by Al Seckel, Douglas R. Hofstadter (Foreword)

Rings of seahorses that seem to rotate on the page. Butterflies that transform right before your eyes into two warriors with their horses. A mosaic portrait of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau made from seashells. These dazzling and often playful artistic creations manipulate perspective so cleverly that they simply outwit our brains: we can’t just take a quick glance and turn away. They compel us to look once, twice, and over and over again, as we try to figure out exactly how the delightful trickery manages to fool our perceptions so completely. Of course, first and foremost, every piece is beautiful on the surface, but each one offers us so much more. From Escher’s famous and elaborate “Waterfall” to Shigeo Fukuda’s “Mary Poppins,” where a heap of bottles, glasses, shakers, and openers somehow turn into the image of a Belle Epoque woman when the spotlight hits them, these works of genius will provide endless enjoyment.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference, Art History, Design, Picture Books, History

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember years ago when Magic Eye was so popular. Those patterned posters, pictures, when if you unfocused your eyes you found see a totally different picture inside the colorful patterns. I have seven children, now grown, but at the time it was something we could all do as a family.

This book that I bought used, reminded me of those times. It mentions, Dali and Escher, because both of those artists are widely known, but the book contains many wonders and delights. The very strange pictures of Giuseppe Arcimboldo, the Belgian trust, Jos De Mey who created impossible worlds on canvas, and I loved, would like to own prints of the magical realism pictures by Rob Gonzales.

This is a coffee table book with many artists, illusions, strangeness, illustrations but also pages on the artists themselves. I've been paying my way through this for the last several months and glad this is one I own so I can look through it again.

[Robert]

This is an excellent introduction to modern art that prominently features one or more types of visual illusion. A wide range of artists and techniques are show-cased. There is an introduction to each artist featuring some biographical information and discussion of the artist's motivations and techniques but really the images themselves are centre stage in this book.

THIS REVIEW HAS BEEN CURTAILED IN PROTEST AT GOODREADS' CENSORSHIP POLICY

See the complete review here:

http://arbieroo.booklikes.com/post/89...-

[Stewart Tame · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly one of my all-time favorite art books. The subtitle and front cover sum it up nicely. This is a collection of works by various artists, all of whom specialize in art that plays perceptual tricks on the viewer: hidden images, sculptures that shift forms depending on one's perspective, impossible figures, images that appear to move or scintillate …

Both Salvador Dali and M.C. Escher are mentioned on the cover, likely because they're the only two most folks will have heard of--certainly that was the case with me anyway. My dad was the one who introduced me to Escher’s work actually, and it was idle curiosity about finding similar artists that led me to surrealism and an affinity for modern art in general. My love of illusion, trickery, and deception runs deep, so it was a foregone conclusion that I was going to like this book.

Some personal high points:

I really like the paintings of Jos De Mey. He seems influenced in equal parts by M.C. Escher and René Magritte.

Shigeo Fukuda manages to make seemingly impossible sculptures. His 3D renderings of Escher’s “Belvedere” and “Waterfall” have to be seen to be believed--or not. Also fascinated by his sculptures of random objects that cast recognizable shadows--the 848 welded knives, forks, and spoons that cast the shadow of a motorcycle, for instance. Also really digging his “Underground Piano”, a wild assemblage of piano parts that somehow looks like a perfect piano when reflected in a mirror at just the right angle.

Rob Gonsalves also does beautiful work. He reminds me of a cross between René Magritte and Chris Van Allsburg. That's one of his paintings on the front cover.

Scott Kim was the one other artist in this book--okay, him and Giuseppe Arcimboldo--who I actually knew of prior to reading this book.

John Pugh’s murals are amazing! I could stare at them for hours.

And I’m amazed that I hadn't heard of Oscar Reutersvärd before. His impossible figures should definitely appeal to Escher fans. One of them--three cubes juxtaposed with each other--looked so plausible that I actually didn't realize it was an impossible configuration. I had to get out some dice and try stacking them a few times before I realized that it could never work.

All in all, a wonderful art book that belongs on the shelf of anyone even vaguely interested in optical illusions. Worth reading again and again. Highly, highly recommended!

[Gillian Kevern · Rating 3 out of 5]

The three star rating is a measure of my enjoyment, not an assessment of the book -- I am not an art person, I know nothing about it beyond taking painting all through high school. I found myself skimming a lot of the background/art talk, but I did enjoy the pictures and what I understood of their selection.

[BookDragon]

This book is amazing. I am a huge fan of optical illusions and I love looking at them and seeing them in different ways. This book has SO many illusions and it is just straight up interesting, period. I really hope there are more books in the world like these.

[Quiver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let anybody from the "art world" tell you that these artists are not interested in aesthetics. That is what this book is all about. It is about finding stunning flashes of great beauty in the most unexpected of places.
—Douglas R. Hofstadter, Foreword

Not that I would, but there—rest assured is worth your time. Names like Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Salvador Dalí, Joe De Mey, and M. C. Escher mean you're likely to recognise at least some of the artworks, but the other contributors have equally stunning works in their own right.

The selection is varied; the print quality high; the book format large enough to enjoy and learn from with ease. A lovely and useful reference book to own, especially if you are at all interested in impossible figures, illusions, or exploring the boundary of human visual perception.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh those tricky artists! The excellent text described what I was seeing, or supposed to be seeing?? The book reminds me of my visit to the Dali Museum in Tampa - I stood back and squinted and finally Abraham Lincoln’s face turned into Dali’s wife Gala. An aha moment. All the pictures are fascinating. More than a coffee table book.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you don't read any of the essays, you'll have fun flipping through this collection of surreal, optical illusion, dual-image, and other sense-bending art. While it includes obvious choices like Escher and Dali, there's also some newcomers I hadn't heard of, such as the Renaissance painter Arcimboldo, the illusions of Kitaoka that appear to move, and the sculptures of Moretti that appear completely different depending on the angle used to view them. And I was kind of blown away by Muniz's lavish creations made out of wire, dust, chocolate syrup, and spaghetti...

This is art that non-artists can enjoy and appreciate, especially children and/or those with an engineering mindset.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

We lost our original copy of this to a fire in 2013 and I have had it on my short list for the past eight years of those (of the 5,800 we lost) that I wanted to replace. When I was looking for a different book some months back, I saw this and checked it off that list. Wonderful collection of artists and selected works of some of the best illusory imaginings out there. I savored this reading, stretching it out over two months because... well it's pretty cool.

[Ita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding. Printed on good quality paper with a fabulous assortment of optical illusions. I spent hours examining/admiring the artwork, then went back and read the book. I wasn't planning on actually reading it, but the author actually adds historical context and explains some of the images. Amazingly low price for the size of the book and the quality of the paper.

[Sally Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't even need to read the text in this book, just enjoy the images.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was enlightening to read about the different artists that have focused their skill on visual paradoxes, anamorphic perspectives, double imagery, illustrations that require reflective shapes -usually cylinders - to have the actual image within appear along with the so called 'impossible' images amidst dozens of others. These have been around for centuries - remember being asked if you saw the 2 faces or the vase? The young woman or the old one? Which line was longer or which square was darker when the lines were the same length and the squares were the same color? Which did you see - the blue and black dress or the white and gold? (it was actually blue and black). All are optical illusions and Seckel collected 20 noted creators.

Each chapter relays a short part of each master's life before displaying several of the works that mess with the viewer's perspective.

I could easily relay tidbits about each of the artists but I'll just make a note of the ones that captivated my attention - John Pugh with his wonderful murals that visually trick the viewer into believing they are looking into a space when it is only a two-dimensional piece. Oscar Reutersvard's impossible figures. Octavio Ocampo's work that practically beg for the watcher to continue going deeper and closer to see more and more content. Ken Knowlton's composie images - love the Spools of Thread tribute to Aaron Feuerstein, the owner of Malden Mills in Massachusetts. Rob Gonsalves and his magical scenes - my favorite being as the man trims the curtains of his home in such a way that a city skyline is created with the distant stars substituting for skyscraper lights.

Anyway, this is one book that will likely not work well as an ebook - unless you turn off the rotate feature because when you examine the 'flip-flops' (one image one way, another the other), the e-reader will just spin it around. Then there are the pictures that you're going to want to examine really closely. Or the one that requires a squint to shift your focus just enough. . . .

Truly, a wonderful book that you're likely want to come back again and again to explore and maybe finally see the dog's head or the black rabbit in Mona Lisa's lap this time.

2021-121

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always fun to look at optical illusions, trompe l'oeil pictures, inverted images, impossible figures, etc. This book presents a fine collection with plenty of full-color illustrations. The material is presented by artist, with a short description of his (I think they were nearly all dudes) background and work and some tips on what to look for followed by an assortment of works. I appreciated that this type of imagery was treated as an art form (or forms, as there are dozens of different types of deceptive pictures) rather than as a parlor trick or mere cleverness. I liked some artists more than others, and several could have been eliminated from this collection with no loss of enjoyment by the reader. But in general this is an entertaining, accessible, and even somewhat educational treatment of an overlooked type of art.

[ashes ➷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was always up on the art books shelf in my childhood, and though I'd often take it down to look at the pictures, I didn't really pay any attention to the essays... until now! I'm happy to say I have FINALLY, as an adult, read the entire book front to back and can give an honest review.

The art is wonderful, the selection of artists is great, and the essays do contain a lot of fun information. I really can't think of what would make this book better except Even More, and at that point it might not fit on your shelf. Wonderful thing to have around, and I'll want to buy my own copy to make sure I always have one in my house.

[Stephen Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains a compilation of illusionary art from various artists. Each chapter focuses on a single artist and opens with a short biography followed by a selection of their works. The works are titled and dated and have descriptions sometimes explaining what you're looking at or giving more information about what inspired the work.

Overall this is my favorite book of this type so far.

[Mauricio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent compilation of art work that makes us take a second and even a third look. These deceptions makes us think about what he think is reality and what is imaginary.

[Søren K. Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas R. Hofstadter is becoming one of my heros

[Adam Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, my brain hurts after spending a month looking at all the amazing artwork in this one.

[Patricia Almeida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masters of Deception: Escher, Dalí & the artists of Optical Illusion by Al Seckel is about optical illusion art and how it confuses the eyes with visual paradoxes.
What it says to me is that perception is the deepest mystery.
This book brings together a remarkable tapestry of words and illustrations celebrating more than 400 years in which was y of the artists has found some unique manner of making your brain play tricks on you, whether you will it or not.
Some people from art will tell you that these artists are not interested in aesthetics but hear them not - they are ingenious and provocative and you’ll not gaze their work without becoming bewitched, bothered, and bewildered with the impossibility of the image or amazed with the possibilities.
“Any human being with eyes that can see who found this set of visual images boring would without any doubt be infinitely boring as well as an insufferable snob. But I take it for granted that you, dear reader, are not such a tedious individual and so I say, lucky you for having come accros this book! Now go and savour all of its astonishing images: they will bring you joy for a long time to come”.

Anamorphosis (from the Greek word meaning “transform”) involves the process of greatly distorting an image, only to have it revealed either from a vantage point or from its reflection on a mirrored surface. Explore anamorphic ideas.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much! Fascinating!!!

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures at parkablogs.com)

This book is a delightful treat to anyone who loves optical illusion.

Here's a quote from the author, Al Seckel, in the introduction:

In researching and presenting optical illusions to wide audiences, I have found that their effect on people is very primal. It does not matter how old they are, how artistic they are, how intelligent they are, what their background or culture is; people just love optical illusions and enjoy being deceived in a delightful and surprising way.

He has done a terrific job at research on the subject, collecting over hundreds of paintings all the way back from the 16th century. Many of the optical illusions found on the Internet are just extensions or interpretation of these masterpieces.

There are 20 artists featured in the book. Every one comes with a well written introduction and a gallery of their best work. While the book can't print all the art work for each artist, it has packed enough to entertain for hours. Each is also captioned to explain the idea and inspiration behind.

There's an incredible array of artistic style used in creating optical illusions. There's Escher who plays with perspective, Shigeo Fukuda who works with light and shadow and many more.

This is a very entertaining book.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on optical illusions. My ten-year-old nephew and I went through the whole book just looking at the images when I received it for my birthday, and both loved it. The text is light, allowing the content to focus on the images instead. Each chapter focuses on a different artist with a 3 page biography followed by about 10 pages of images, often with brief explanations.
What is interesting is how many of the artists had mathematical backgrounds, though it does make sense. They often also influenced one another's work. The artists are from countries all over the world. All are men, which makes me wonder if there are many prominent female artists who focus on optical illusions. I was familiar with a few of these artists--Giuseppe Arcimboldo, Salvador Dali, M.C. Escher and Rob Gonsalves. But the 16 other artists were new to me. My favorite piece was Akiyoshi Kitaoka's "Ferry Boat" (2000)--a digitally created image of lines and dots that show a raft that seems to drift on the water.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Offspring received this as a present for Christmas, and finally got around to looking at it. There are some cool and truly mind-blowing works within.

***

What happened is, the kids got it, and took it to their room, and looked at the pictures all the time, and then, finally, decided they were done and put it into the pile to donate. At which point I retrieved it, and finally got to finish.

The text is "meh", three stars at best. There's a few paragraphs about the artists' evolution, followed by a canned biography blurb. The captions of the pictures are title, date, media, and only very rarely something about the picture itself. But oh, those pictures are cool. Even the ones I don't like especially can blow my mind. I'd really enjoy learning more about how they make this stuff, because designing an impossible object seems impossible, and making a working 3D impossible object seems even harder.

I'll be keeping this with our other art books.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough and surprising, this book was a joy to devour in both the brief artist biographies and the variety of artwork pictured throughout this book as I stood at my duty post in the mornings at school. There were many more new and old artists in the realm of illusion, optical art, and Surrealism (outside of the expected Dali and Escher, for example) I'd never heard of before whose art it was a delight to see and discover for the first time. This book is also a great resource I am sure I will turn to again in my art classroom.

[Ioannis Savvas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ο οπτικός φλοιός είναι αυτός που ουσιαστικά μάς δίνει το έναυσμα για την οικοδόμηση του κατασκευάσματος μέσα στον εγκέφαλό μας που λέγεται κόσμος. Η τέχνη (κυρίως η ζωγραφική) διεγείρει και ιντριγκάρει τον οπτικό φλοιό. Του παρουσιάζει μια άλλη πραγματικότητα και μερικές φορές την υποκαθιστά. Ίσως μάλιστα η πραγματικότητα της τέχνης να είναι η πραγματική πραγματικότητα.

Το Masters of Deception είναι ένα λεύκωμα της Τέχνης της Παραπλάνησης του οπτικού φλοιού. Πάντως στα παιδιά έχει μεγάλη επίδραση!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has some fascinating pieces, and while Escher and Dali are mentioned in the title but it's definitely worth checking out the whole collection of artists featured for the artists whose work you might not have seen. Some of the optical illusions will make your head spin! I also loved this because some of these pieces I'd seen passed around on social media without accreditation (shocking, I know) and now I have seen the entire image of Sandro Del-Prete's "The Message of Dolphins" in addition to the center piece that gets shared online.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting view of a fair number of artists who engage in trompe l'oeil, double images, impossible perspective, and a lot of other optical tricks. One even works in fonts to produce such things as "Teach" that is reflected as "Learn". Also sculptures that produce shadows or reflections that reveal the significance, or -- from the right angle -- show "impossible" perspective.

[James of the Redwoods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Has excellent color prints of many of my favorite artists. The related texts are concise and interesting.

For students of the Renaissance or Rosicrucian history, the section on Giuseppe Arcimboldo makes this book worth a look.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artists that practice the craft of trompe d'oeuil and anamorphosism have always been some of my favourite artists so this book made me quite happy to briefly learn all their journeys through art and how some of their greater works came to be.

[Quentin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but putting links to the website (which no longer exists) on far too many of the pages takes away from the timelessness of a book. Would be better if the website was mentioned once and then move along.

Minor qualm though - other than that it's a good coffee table book.