Trompe l'œil

You are walking through Levallois-Perret, a town that holds the distinction of having the highest concentration of trompe l'oeil murals in France. The term itself is French for trick the eye, and it refers to an artistic technique designed to deceive your perception by creating a highly realistic, three-dimensional illusion on a flat surface. While the practice has roots in the murals of ancient Pompeii and the architectural illusions of the Renaissance, Levallois-Perret has adopted it on an urban scale. Rather than just viewing these works in a gallery, you will find nearly fifty of them painted directly onto the sides of residential buildings and public facades throughout the city streets.