Plate from 18th century encyclopedia showing illustrations of anamorphosis and perspective. Perspective in the graphic arts is an approximate representation, on a flat surface (such as paper), of an image as it is seen by the eye. The two most characteristic features of perspective are that objects are drawn: Smaller as their distance from the observer increases, and, Foreshortened: the size of an object's dimensions along the line of sight are relatively shorter than dimensions across the line of sight. Anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to use special devices or occupy a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image. The word "anamorphosis" is derived from the Greek prefix ana-, meaning back or again, and the word morphe, meaning shape or form.