Optical Arts

Background of the Art’s Movements

History

 Op Art has its roots in a technique called trompe-l'œil, which is French for trick
the eye. The earliest references to such tendencies in art date back to antiquity,
when ancient Greek artists attempted to make paintings so realistic that people
would literally be fooled into believing their images were real.

 Artist tricked the eye by painting objects to look three-dimensional, or

anamorphosis.

Philosophy
 Optical, art typically employs abstract patterns composed with a stark contrast of
foreground and background - often in black and white for maximum contrast - to
produce effects that confuse and excite the eye.
 FAMOUS ARTIST AND THEIR ARTWORKS

VICTOR VASARELY

 Victor Vasarely was a Hungarian-French artist, who is widely accepted as a

"grandfather" and leader of the Op art movement. His work titled Zebra, created
in 1937.

BRIDGET RILEY

 One of the best-known Op Art painters, famous for her striking murals composed
of multiple stripes which create optical illusions
JESUS RAFAEL SOTO

 His work is often associated with Venezuelan Op art because the serial
geometric forms of his paintings of the 1950s bear an affinity to works from that
later movement.
ARCHITECTURE