Summary

In Chapter 10, “The Culmination of Geometry,” in Thilo’s room one day, Thilo shows Wojnicz his artwork. He gives him an optical illusion, teaching him how to train his eyes on the piece. Wojnicz is moved by the experience. Then Thilo shows him a landscape painting he took from his house. If Wojnicz looks at it one way, he sees the familiar image of Abraham sacrificing Isaac. If he looks at it another way, he sees a mysterious figure emerge from the scene. Thilo argues that both images are true and it is simply a matter of perception. Confused, Wojnicz worries that Thilo has a fever.

That night, Wojnicz wakes from a strange dream. He hears noises in the hall and creeps out of his room, where he runs into August. The two stay up drinking Schwärmerei and talking. Frommer soon joins...