What technique uses lines to create the illusion of space on a 2D surface?

The technique that uses lines to create the illusion of space on a two-dimensional surface is known as linear perspective. This method employs a system of converging lines towards one or more vanishing points on the horizon line. This approach gives the viewer the sense that depth and distance are being represented in a flat image, which mimics how we perceive the physical space around us.

In linear perspective, as objects recede into the distance, they appear smaller and closer together, enhancing the real-life experience of three-dimensional space. This technique is foundational in Western art, particularly from the Renaissance onward, allowing artists to create compositions that guide the viewer's eye and create believable spatial relationships.

Other techniques, such as atmospheric perspective, utilize color and clarity to suggest depth by showing objects in the foreground with more detail and color saturation while fading them into the background. Two-point perspective, while also a form of linear perspective, specifically uses two vanishing points for objects at an angle. Central axis refers to a compositional technique rather than a method for creating spatial illusion.