trompe-l’oeil

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an artistic technique that uses realistic detail to create the illusion that painted objects are three-dimensional

   The mural's trompe-l’oeil makes the flat wall look like an open archway.

2. 2
   adj

   designed or painted to create a convincing illusion of real depth or objects

   A trompe-l’oeil window brightened the windowless room.

Borrowed from French trompe-l’œil, literally ‘deceives the eye,’ from tromper, ‘to deceive,’ and l’œil, ‘the eye.’

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