Anamorphosis is a visual trick used in the arts to create an image that appears to be distorted until the viewer shifts position or looks at the picture with a special instrument. An image created using this technique can appear perplexing, perplexing, or mystifying at first glance, with some images being so subtle that something just looks slightly off, while others being nearly impossible to comprehend. Anamorphosis is a technique used in art in a variety of ways, and you might be able to see some examples if you go to a museum or a bookstore that sells art books.
When people first began to understand how perspective worked in the 14th century, the concept of anamorphosis arose. If you look at art from before the 14th century, you’ll notice that it’s often flattened and lacks perspective. Artists began to explore the possibilities of manipulating perspective to create visual tricks or illusions as they learned about perspective and realism in painting.
In the case of perspective anamorphosis, the viewer must shift his or her position in relation to the painting in order to comprehend the image. The viewer can see the hidden image inside the larger image changing perspective and relaxing their eyes. Trompe l’oeil paintings, particularly large paintings such as those that line the roofs of cathedrals, frequently employ perspective anamorphosis. Mirror anamorphosis, on the other hand, necessitates the viewer’s use of a device such as a mirror to discern the image.
Anamorphosis wasn’t just a pastime for artists. Painters could distribute obscene or controversial material while remaining confident that it would be hidden from prying eyes using anamorphic techniques to hide images in paintings. Anamorphosis allows for a kind of visual cryptography, with the author using a key to embed a message in the work and the viewer deciphering it using the same key.
You may be looking at an example of anamorphosis if you approach a work of visual art that appears to be distorted. You could try shifting your position in relation to the painting to see if it’s a case of perspective anamorphosis, or you could place a mirror in front of it to see the hidden message. To avoid viewers becoming frustrated, museums with anamorphic artworks usually include a discussion of anamorphosis in the description; if you enjoy looking at this type of art, several publishers also produce entire books of anamorphic artwork.
“The Ambassadors,” which includes a hidden human skull, the vault of the Church of Saint Ignazio, painted in the 1600s Andrea Pozzo, and “Leonardo’s Eye” are all famous examples of anamorphosis.