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impossible object

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two-dimensional figure representing a projection of a three-dimensional object that cannot exist

~7 min read

Encyclopedic overview

An impossible object (also known as an impossible figure or an undecidable figure) is a type of optical illusion that consists of a two-dimensional figure which is instantly and naturally understood as representing a projection of a three-dimensional object but cannot exist as a solid object. Impossible objects are of interest to psychologists, mathematicians and artists without falling entirely into any one discipline.

Notable examples

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “impossible object” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.