Cryptic crossword clue
Art school illusion is magical at first 13

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 13 letter word IMPRESSIONISM

I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Art school" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case art school = impressionism.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does IMPRESSIONISM mean?

IMPRESSIONISM noun
  1. A movement in art characterized by visible brush strokes, ordinary subject matters, and an emphasis on light and its changing qualities
  2. A style that avoided traditional harmony, and sought to invoke the impressions of the composer
  3. A style that used imagery and symbolism to portray the poet's impressions

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