Perspective

Perspective, method of producing the appearance of three dimensions on a flat surface. Linear perspective, developed during the Renaissance, exploits the fact that the size of an object seems to shrink to a point as its distance increases. Lines in a picture would, if extended, meet a vanishing point which is always on the horizon line, one the level of the observer's eye. Depending on the view, there may be more than one vanishing point in a picture. Aerial perspective, depends on the fact that the atmosphere disperses the light from distant objects. An artist paints features fainter and bluer to convey the impression of distance.