Hans Holbein's use of anamorphism is well known. Here, the
"ambassador" can see how life is vain simply by looking at
his reflection in mirror at his feet. An anamorphism may be
thought of as a painting in perspective, but NOT linear
perspective. Instead of linear perspective, light is commonly
distorted as if through a cylinder, cone, or other shape such
as a sphere, etc. The anamorphism, if looked at at the correct
angle, shows a skull, indicating how short life is. It is
interesting that anamorphic distortions were also used to hide
sexual scenes. Only a viewer who knew how to see (decrypt) the
anamorphic scene could recognize the
sexuality and other censored topics.
Another example, using a mirror to produce an anamorphically distorted
perspective of a pipe click here.
Non-linear perspective has also been used, but not for the
gross distortions of anamorphisms
click here.
Linear perspective has also been used to "fool the eye" or "trompe l'oeil"
click here.
"Trompe l'oeil" painting has been used in illusionist painting such as
"quadrature"
click here.
"Trompe l'oeil" anamorphic paintings have been created in which illusions
are created using color in place of perspective (though the "illusions"
can combine both perspective and color).
click here.
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