Architectural illusion painting, Mural in Levallois-Perret, Paris, France
The trompe l'oeil architectural mural is an outdoor artwork painted on building walls in the Levallois-Perret neighborhood of Paris, where flat facades are decorated with painted architectural elements such as windows and doors. The works are visible from the street and can be seen as part of a guided walking tour of the area.
The trompe l'oeil technique goes back to ancient Greece, but the term itself first appeared in France during the Paris Salon in the 19th century. Over time, the style moved from interior illusionist painting to large outdoor murals on city buildings.
The trompe l'oeil technique tricks the eye into seeing flat surfaces as three-dimensional spaces. In Levallois-Perret, artists use it to cover building walls with painted windows, doors, and scenes that look almost real as you walk past.
The murals are outdoors in Levallois-Perret and can be seen for free from the street at any time. A guided walk through the neighborhood, which lasts around two hours, helps visitors find all the works and understand them in context.
Levallois-Perret is also the neighborhood where Gustave Eiffel had his workshops before building the Eiffel Tower and contributing to the construction of the Statue of Liberty. This history comes as a surprise to most visitors who come for the murals.
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