Trompe l'oeil

Trompe l'oeil literally means "trick the eye". It is a type of optical illusion which had its origin in the Baroque period. It usually refers to paintings that are done on objects - usually walls - with a deliberate attempt at creating false perspectives and effects. To cite an example, if there were a door on one end of a wall, a trompe l'oeil painting would be done on the other end, complete with effects of persons peeping through it.