Meet the grandaddy of optical illusion art

March 15, On This Day

What you see is not what you get

Look upon this picture with all your attention for a minute? What do you see? The answer that optical art usually provides is that everyone sees something different!

And for this fascinating addition to the sphere of art, we can all thank Hungarian-French artist, Victor Vasarely, who was born on April 9, 1906 and passed away on today\’s date 24 years ago (March 15, 1997).

Vasarely is considered by many to be the leader of the op art or optical art movement.

A style of visual art that uses optical illusions, op art works are usually abstract, with many better known pieces created in black and white. Typically, they give the impression of movement, hidden images, flashing and vibrating patterns, or swelling and warping.

Vasarely\’s piece entitled Zebra, created in the 1930s, is considered by some to be one of the earliest examples of op art.

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