Many believe that optical illusions are art, but not until 20th century
when Op Art emerged is when optical illusions were introduced into art
(Gourley 2019). Before it was only a study for the mathematicians before
this era.Op Art is a type of abstract art that causes the viewer to
capture
an object with the use of patterns. For example, drawing a
hand outline in class, and with the use of repetitive lines, making it
look as if your hand was still placed on the paper.
Optical Illusions (also known as visual illusions) are anomalies to the eyes that our brain cannot explain at first glance. Optical illusions have an enriched history starting way back in 5th B.C. by Epicharmus and Protagoras trying to explain this phenomenon (although they didn't see eye to eye). Epicharmus believed that our senses took in information from the surrounding world differently than it is actually perceived. As for Protagoras, he believed that our senses were not to be blamed, but instead the environment deceived the onlooker (Gourley 2019). It was Plato that joined the two ideas, that are now accepted today, which is that the mind and eyes must work together to create the environment for optical illusions to be perceived.
These Greek philosophers were the only the beginning of what is to come from this study of optical illusions. Through the years three popular types of optical illusions have emerged which are: literal illusions, physiological illusions, and cognitive illusions. The goal of this website is to give an understanding of these types of optical illusions, how they come to life through mathematics, and the application of these optical illusions.