impossibleTriangle.gif penroseTribar.gif

The impossible triangle—also known as the the Penrose tribar—is an existing 2D object which gives the appearance of a 3D object. However, the 3D object which is depicted would actually be impossible within 3 dimensions; it cannot exist.

For an enlightening dissection of the impossible triangle illusion (and an extension of the same idea into 4 dimensions), see Scott E. Kim's article "An Impossible Four-Dimensional Illusion" in the 1978 volume Hypergraphics: Visualizing Complex Relationships in Art, Science and Technology.

Code: Download penroseTribar.zip