Oscar Reutersvard

Swedish artist

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July 13, 2026

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Oscar Reutersvärd was a Swedish artist known for creating "impossible figures" or undecidable figures. These are drawings that appear to represent three-dimensional objects but are, upon closer inspection, flawed due to faulty perspective or psychological distortion. Reutersvärd made these impossible figures a central theme in a series of Swedish postage stamps. His work in this area predates similar concepts explored by artists like M.C. Escher and mathematicians like L.S. and Roger Penrose, who also delved into impossible constructions such as the Penrose stairway.1

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Impossible figures
…these drawings—also called undecidable figures—was Oscar Reutersvard of Sweden, who made them the central features of a set of Swedish postage stamps.
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…these drawings—also called undecidable figures—was Oscar Reutersvard of Sweden, who made them the central features of a set of Swedish postage stamps.
Read More