Zeuxis and Parrhasius
According to Pliny’s chronicle Naturalis Historia, the ancient Greek painters Zeuxis and Parrhasius were so skillful at rendering reality that one day they decided to test their abilities with a contest. Zeuxis painted an image of grapes so lifelike that hungry birds flew into it — an impressive feat of realism. Parrhasius countered with a painting obscured by a veil. Only when onlookers approached to uncover the image within did they realize the veil itself was painted.
If some see Parrhasius as the clear victor, is it simply because he managed to persuade human beings instead of birds? Psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan used this parable to point out a supposedly unique characteristic of human attention: the desire to uncover the hidden. This desire is what prompted onlookers to “buy into” Parrhasius’ visual trick. The act of uncovering the illusion itself was the source of their fascination. What does this tell us about our attention — and about the peculiar power exerted upon us by the unknown?
(Above) Zeuxis painting the portrait of Juno from the features of five different women; (below) Parrhasius deceives onlookers with a painting of a veil over a painting, and birds with a painting of grapes. Etching by J.J. von Sandrart after J. von Sandrart. Wellcome Collection. Source: Wellcome Collection.