Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts: Master of Illusion and Mortality Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts (1640 – after 1675) remains an enigmatic figure in seventeenth-century art history, shrouded in obscurity despite producing a remarkable body of work characterized by its masterful trompe l'œil technique. Precise biographical details are scarce; his birthplace is uncertain, and information regarding his later life is fragmentary—a frustrati…