Impossible Figures and Objects

In 1934 a Swedish artist named Oscar Reutersvärd made the first impossible triangle out of cubes. At that point, some artists had unintentionally created impossible figures, but Reutersvärd was the first to realize what he had done. From that day on, he created thousands of impossible figures. Today he is recognized as "the father of impossible figures." In the 1980s the Swedish government created a stamp to honor Reutersvärd's impossible triangle. It was issued for about two years and can be seen below.

Impossible figures and objects sometimes reveal important insights into how we interpret 3D objects from 2D images. When looking at an impossible figure, it is hard to see how the parts fit together as a three dimensional object. It is really not the object that is in 3D, it is our interpretation of it. Given the chance to see something as 3D, your eyes will do so because they prefer 3D over 2D, or flat images. This type of illusion includes the "Impossible Triangle," the "Impossible Trident," and the "Impossible Staircase." The Mad magazine cover below from 1965 is shows an example of an "impossible trident,"

and perhaps the most famous example of an "impossible staircase" can be seen in the art of M.C. Escher. To see more examples of impossible figures, click here.