The realistic manner in which William Harnett painted A Smoke Backstage is called:
A) abstract
B) painterly
C) nonrepresentational
D) trompe l'oeil

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The realistic manner in which William Harnett painted A Smoke Backstage is called trompe l'oeil, which means "fool the eye" in French. This technique creates an illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface and makes the viewer believe that the objects depicted are real and tangible. Harnett's painting is a prime example of trompe l'oeil art because it shows a cluttered backstage scene with various objects such as ropes, pulleys, and a smoking lamp in such great detail that they appear to be popping out of the canvas.

The Realistic Manner in Which William Harnett Painted a Smoke