A photograph that seems to be of a real octopus placed on a white surface has been causing quite a stir online, eliciting reactions of astonishment and disbelief.

Posted by artist ARIA (@aririria_art), the photo is in fact their stunningly realistic illustration of an octopus, masterfully rendered in all its details.

Like many of those who commented on the viral post, you may also question whether it's not a real octopus on a table. However, a video posted by ARIA proves without a doubt that it's a drawing. As you can see below, ARIA can be seen picking up their creation and showing without a doubt that it only exists in two dimensions.

Moreover, in a third post, they also show the octopus "coming to life" from outline to finished work. It's truly remarkable to see how carefully they created the intricate details of the creature, from its suction cups on its tentacles to the texture of its skin. It almost looks like it could slither off the page at any moment.

The reaction on Twitter has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people expressing their amazement at ARIA's talent. "This is incredible! I can't believe it's just a pencil drawing," wrote one user. "I thought it was a real octopus at first!" said another. "ARIA's art is so amazing. I can't wait to see what they come up with next," wrote a third.

ARIA is known for creating realistic illustrations of all kinds of subjects, from parakeets to diamonds, and their work has been gaining a lot of attention online. They have amassed a large following on social media, where they regularly share their incredible illustrations with their fans.

It's clear that ARIA has a natural talent for creating incredibly realistic drawings, and we can't wait to see what they come up with next.