Op-Art
Optical art is something that, if you look at it, did not just come from no where. Op-art began in the 1900's, appearing in Time magazine. Soon, the style spread, and many people were creating illusions. It is important for many reasons, but one of them is that it created a wider view of art and some say it even affects scientist's thoughts on the connection with the brain and the eyes.
"The art of tomorrow will be a collective treasure or it will not be art at all." -Victor Vasarely
" I am always wandering around in enigmas. There are young people who constantly come to tell me: you, too, are making Op Art. I haven't the slightest idea what that is, Op Art. I've been doing this work for thirty years now" -M.C Escher
Two Styles That Led Up To Op-art
Abstract Art
This style is one of the main parts used to create optical art. Abstract art does not necessarily mean anything or is supposed to represent anything. Artists who were proficient in this style knew that they were free to create anything they wanted, involving any shapes, colors, and lines they wished to be there. The style was at first unpopular, people thinking it was ugly and that art should have some theme, meaning, or clear object. Eventually though, people warmed up to the idea of abstract art, and started to enjoy it. Abstract art styles are still used today, and created a few other styles as well.
Pop Art
Created in the 1950's, pop art was a style created in Britain and the U.S. Usually, pop art used abstractedness and expressionism to create art based on events that were happening at the time the art was created. Pop art used cut-outs from other things, color and shapes, and original designs and creations to create a usually crowded piece of artwork.