Vue d'Optique — engravings

Engravings from the "Vue d'Optique" (optical view) or "Guckkastenblatt" (perspective view) series.

Optical, perspective engravings, or Vue d'optique, are a special type of print published in Europe during the 18th century. These engravings were created for viewing in a special device—the zograscope (or optical viewing machine). The zograscope is an optical instrument with a large lens and a system of mirrors that created the illusion of depth when viewing the engraving. A characteristic feature of perspective views is the emphasized linear perspective, designed to further enhance depth and illusory space when viewed through the optics.

The inscriptions on such engravings were printed in reverse, as the mirror system flipped the image. The hand-coloring of these prints is bright, often "heavy," to show shades and emphasize the depth of perspective when viewed through the zograscope.