You definitely could see pixels. They just weren't simple flat-colour squares with sharp edges. The appearance of a pixel was influenced by its neighbours, the

You definitely could see pixels. They just weren't simple flat-colour squares with sharp edges. The appearance of a pixel was influenced by its neighbours, the viewing angle, and what that pixel was doing previously. Great artists that worked in the medium knew how to make art within the restrictions of the medium that didn't look like it had been restricted by the medium; as great artists do in any medium.