In a 1964 seminar, the psychoanalyst and theorist Jacques Lacan observed that the myth of the two painters reveals an interesting aspect of human cognition. While animals are attracted to superficial appearances, humans are enticed by the idea of that which is hidden. See reading What is A Picture? Lacan, J. pp.109.

Zeuxis and Parrhasius were painters who flourished during the 5th century BC. They are reported four hundred years later in the Naturalis Historia an encyclopedia written by Pliny the Elder, an ancient author and natural philosopher of some importance to have staged a contest to determine which of the two was the greater artist. When Zeuxis unveiled his painting of grapes, they appeared so luscious and inviting that birds flew down from the sky to peck at them. Zeuxis then asked Parrhasius to pull aside the curtain from his painting, only for Parrhasius to reveal the curtain itself was a painting, and Zeuxis was forced to concede defeat. Zeuxis is rumoured to have said: 'I have deceived the birds, but Parrhasius has deceived Zeuxis.' In other words, while his work had managed to fool the eyes of birds, Parrhasius' work had deceived the eyes of an artist.

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