A "trompe l'Oeil" (fool the eye) is a painting or drawing so life-like, you would think it's real if you were standing there.
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Taylor Hall

Taylor Hall

Created by John Pugh in 1981

This is an incredibly well-done mural on Taylor Hall, Chico State University in California. It gave the artist international recognition because it looks so real. The idea was breaking open the wall to show an imagined museum inside. It sure works - you 'd swear there's a huge hole in the wall.

Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life

Art Imitating Life Imitating Art Imitating Life

Created by John Pugh in 1996

Everything you see inside the surrounding bricks is a mural !

Rembrandt

Rembrandt

Created by Julian Beever

Can you believe this is just drawn with chalk ?

Coke bottle

Coke bottle

Created by Julian Beever

No, this is not a cut-and-paste of a real coke bottle in Photoshop. This coke bottle is drawn. In chalk. On pavement. Really incredible, I'm sure you'll agree.

Pavement

Pavement

Created by Julian Beever

It looks like a piece of the pavement has been taken out.

Swimming Pool

Swimming Pool

Created by Julian Beever

It's hard to make a 3D drawing on the ground. This picture looks only good from one point of view. When seen from the other side it looks entirely different. Click on the enlarged picture to look from the other side.

Plumbing Services

Plumbing Services

Nice paint job ! It looks like this guy is sitting on the toilet while he's driving his car. Come to think of it, maybe he IS sitting on a toilet. This is a firm from Nova Scotia in Canada.

Painted Bus

Painted Bus

A remarkable ad on a bus, although I haven't got a clue what it's about. A small, old bus is painted on a large new one. It looks like there are two buses at first sight.

Sofitel Toilet

Sofitel Toilet

Check out this toilet in Queenstown, New Zealand. This must be the most original urinal I've ever seen. Not that I'd be comfortable ...

Batman

Batman

Created by Julian Beever in 2005

An absolutely insane chalk drawing on the pavement. Batman an Robin are going to save a man from a burning building. Don't you get high anxiety when you look at this drawing ? Note the level of details : the real pavement is actually casting a "shadow" on the buildings below it.