Oscar Reutersvärd was a Swedish artist and is widely regarded as the ""father of the impossible figure."" He is best known for his creation of optical illusions and impossible objects, which are visual representations that defy physical possibility, intriguing and baffling viewers with their paradoxical nature.
Impossible figure, color lithograph.
Pioneering the Impossible Figure
Reutersvärd began experimenting with impossible figures in the 1930s, creating designs that appear feasible at first glance but upon closer examination, defy logical physical construction. His most famous creation is perhaps the ""impossible triangle,"" also known as the Penrose triangle, which he developed independently around the same time as British mathematician Roger Penrose. These figures play with perspective and spatial logic, creating a visual puzzle that has fascinated both artists and scientists.
Influence on Art and Science
Reutersvärd’s work had a significant impact not only in art but also in the fields of mathematics and cognitive science, where his creations have been studied as examples of human perception challenges. His contributions have been recognised in various exhibitions dedicated to optical illusions and artistic explorations of geometry and perspective.
Oil on canvas, clubbed for 4 360 GBP at Ekenbergs.
Oscar Reutersvärd's legacy continues through numerous exhibitions and the enduring popularity of his impossible figures in books, educational materials, and art collections. His work challenges viewers to rethink the boundaries of visual perception and the interface between art and mathematical concepts.