Why Do Paintings Seem to Move When You Walk Past Them?

Paintings can look like they move when you walk by them because of how our eyes work. Imagine a painting has lines that go from the top to the bottom, if those lines are slanted just right, your brain thinks it's moving as you walk past it, like watching a cartoon! It’s not real movement, but it feels that way.

Take the quiz →

Examples

  1. Walking past a painting with slanted lines makes it look like it’s wiggling.
  2. A picture of a street that’s slightly tilted looks like you’re moving forward as you walk by.
  3. The red and blue stripes on the wall seem to flow when you pass them.

Ask a question

See also

Discussion

Recent activity