If you believe old horror movies, paintings have eyes that follow you around. That illusion is a tribute to the artists who can make flat, two-dimensional paintings seem real.
For centuries, eyes have had a major role in art. In some ancient cases, that role was religious. In more modern times, artists have used shimmering eyes to make their paintings come to life. Artists know that people feel they can “read” somebody by looking into his or her eyes. As a result, eyes are the central focus of many portraits.
