Something is intriguing about optical illusions. One moment, we know something is true because we saw it with our own eyes, and the next moment, we learn that we've been duped! We seem compelled to keep looking and need to reconcile why the visual part of our brain sees one reality and the logical part knows something different.

What is the Café Wall Illusion?

A while back, I read an article that explained in some depth one particular deception, the café wall illusion. After reading many of the explanations, I have to admit that a complete understanding of why this happens eludes me. The illusion inspired me to create the café wall out of wood.

Imagine a checkerboard where the rows are not nicely lined up but are staggered instead. Now, add a thin line around each of the squares. As you look back and forth at the checkerboard, the parallel lines appear to bend and converge. Our brains tell us that something is not quite right here. I've had friends view my pieces and doubt the lines were parallel. With a healthy dose of skepticism, they had to measure the spacing between the lines!

German-American psychologist Hugo Münsterberg first described this phenomenon in the late 1890s. It has been called the 'kindergarten' illusion since it was sometimes apparent in the weaving of kindergarten students. It is also known as the 'shifted checkerboard' and the 'Münsterburg illusion.'

In 1973, students and faculty at the University of Bristol in England noticed this illusion happening at a local cafe where bricks were painted black and white in this fashion. Thus, the name 'café wall illusion.'

How Does the Café Wall Illusion Work?

Three things combine to make this illusion happen. First, rectangles of highly contrasting colors alternate to form a row. Next, several of these rows are joined but are offset or staggered. Third, between each of the blocks and each of the rows, there are thin lines of another, more neutral color.

Our brains have many sections, each with specialized jobs to do. In this case, the visual parts of the brain are doing much of the work. Certain conditions often get misinterpreted. For instance, light-colored blocks appear larger than dark blocks of the same size. The movement we see in the café wall seems to result from conflicting interpretations in our brains.

Although the café wall illusion leads us all down the rabbit hole of trying to understand, when viewing my pieces, there is no need to overthink them. Relax, have fun, and be intrigued!

Enjoy My Café Wall Illusion Art

This café wall illusion is one of my largest pieces.

If you want to commission a Café Wall, email me at moe@moelalonde.com. We can discuss the size and shape that is right for you. I have also made Café Wall coffee tables.

Beautiful art for life well lived,

Moe