Satire on False Perspective

Satire on False Perspective is the title of an engraving produced by William Hogarth in 1754 for his friend Joshua Kirby's pamphlet on linear perspective. The intent of the work is clearly given by its caption: Summary The work shows a scene that provides many deliberate examples of confused and misplaced perspective effects. Although the individual components of the scene seem self-consistent, the scene itself can be classed as an example of an impossible object. Partial list of "errors" The man in the foreground's fishing rod's line passes behind that of the man behind him. The sign is moored to two buildings, one in front of the other, with beams that show no difference in depth The sign is overlapped by two distant trees. The man climbing the hill is lighting his pipe with the candle of the woman leaning out of the upper story window. The crow perched on the tree is massive in comparison to it. The church appears to front onto the river.