Linear perspective is an approximate representation, generally on a flat surface, of an image as it is seen by the eye. Perspective drawing helps represent a three-dimensional scene in a two-dimensional medium, like paper.

The main principle of perspective drawing: objects appear smaller as their distance from the observer increases and they are subject to foreshortening, meaning that an object’s dimensions along the line of sight appear shorter than its dimensions across the line of sight. All objects will recede to points in the distance, usually along the horizon line, but also above and below the horizon line depending on the view used.