The nation’s capital may be the single biggest political power generator on earth, but its grip on reality can seem mighty relaxed. Never mind the government, just look at the city: so rich but so poor; so monumental but so run down. Does anyone ever know what’s really going on? Anyway, it makes sense that reality, or maybe realism, is the underlying theme of exhibitions at three of the city’s major museums.

Escaping Criticism, Pere Borrell del Caso (1874), National Gallery

The biggest attraction is “Deceptions and Illusions: Five Centuries of Trompe l’Oeil Painting,” devoted to tricking the eye. It opens on Sunday at the National Gallery of Art. It’s a blast and should be a hit. NY Times