Ambiguous Illusions

Day and Night by Escher

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Day and Night by Escher

“Day and Night” is a woodcut print created by M.C. Escher in 1938. It is a visually striking image that showcases Escher’s mastery of optical illusions and his ability to create playful and intriguing images.

The print features a series of stylized birds and fish that seem to transform into each other as they change from night to day and back again. The birds are depicted as black silhouettes against a white background, while the fish are depicted as white silhouettes against a black background. The two patterns appear to be intertwined and interchangeable, creating an illusion of fluidity and transformation.

In the center of the print, there is a sphere that seems to represent the sun. The sphere is divided into two halves, with the white half representing daylight and the black half representing nighttime. The white half of the sphere casts light on the white fish, making them visible, while the black half of the sphere casts shadows on the black birds, making them disappear.

The print is notable for its use of tessellation, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles. The stylized birds and fish form a tessellation that covers the entire surface of the print, creating a sense of unity and coherence.

Overall, “Day and Night” is a visually striking and thought-provoking work that showcases Escher’s mastery of mathematical principles and his ability to create playful and intriguing optical illusions. The print continues to captivate audiences with its intricate details and its depiction of a world where day and night seem to transform into each other.


Day and Night by Escher
Day and Night by Escher


Table of Contents

How does Day and Night by Escher work?

The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Day and Night” work through a combination of tessellation, repetition, and transformation.

Tessellation is the repetition of shapes to form a seamless pattern, and in “Day and Night,” Escher uses tessellation to create a repeating pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other as they change from night to day and back again. The birds are arranged in a pattern that forms stylized waves, while the fish are arranged in a similar pattern that forms the background of the sky. The two patterns appear to be intertwined and interchangeable, creating an illusion of fluidity and transformation.

Repetition is used to create a sense of unity and coherence in the print. The stylized waves and sky form a tessellation that covers the entire surface of the print, creating a sense of unity and coherence.

The transformation between birds and fish is created through a visual play on the viewer’s perception. The shapes and patterns used to depict the birds and fish are similar, and the two patterns are arranged in such a way that they appear to transform into each other as they change from night to day and back again. This creates the illusion of a world where day and night seem to transform into each other, adding to the playful and intriguing nature of the print.

The illusion of light and shadow is created through the use of contrasting colors. The sphere in the center of the print represents the sun, and is divided into two halves, with the white half representing daylight and the black half representing nighttime. The white half of the sphere casts light on the white fish, making them visible, while the black half of the sphere casts shadows on the black birds, making them disappear.

Overall, the illusions in “Day and Night” work through a combination of tessellation, repetition, transformation, and contrast, to create a visually striking and thought-provoking image. Escher’s mastery of these techniques creates a world where day and night seem to transform into each other in a playful and intriguing manner.

Versions of Day and Night by Escher

The following are some alternate versions of Day and Night by Escher


Day and Night by Escher


Day and Night by Escher



Illusions like Day and Night by Escher

“Day and Night” by M.C. Escher features several types of illusions, including:

  1. Transformation illusion: The print features a series of stylized birds and fish that seem to transform into each other as they change from night to day and back again. The illusion of transformation is created through a visual play on the viewer’s perception, as the shapes and patterns used to depict the birds and fish are similar, and the two patterns are arranged in such a way that they appear to transform into each other.
  2. Trompe-l’œil illusion: The illusion of a three-dimensional sphere in the center of the print is created through the use of shading and contrast, giving the impression of a real, spherical object.
  3. Light and shadow illusion: The illusion of light and shadow is created through the use of contrasting colors, with the white half of the sphere representing daylight and the black half representing nighttime. The white half of the sphere casts light on the white fish, making them visible, while the black half of the sphere casts shadows on the black birds, making them disappear.
  4. Tessellation illusion: The use of tessellation, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles, creates a sense of unity and coherence in the print. The stylized birds and fish form a tessellation that covers the entire surface of the print, creating a sense of unity and coherence.

Overall, “Day and Night” features a combination of trompe-l’œil, transformation, light and shadow, and tessellation illusions, making it a visually striking and thought-provoking work that showcases Escher’s mastery of mathematical principles and his ability to create playful and intriguing optical illusions.

Some related illusions include the following:

Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.

They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.

Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.

These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.

Penrose Shapes
Penrose Shapes


The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.

Pensrose Staircase
The Penrose Staircase Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.


Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”

It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.

Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.

Trompe-l'œil Capri
Trompe-L’œil


The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

Impossible Cylinder

The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.

The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.


Creation of Day and Night by Escher

“Day and Night” is a woodcut print created by M.C. Escher in 1938. It is a visually striking image that showcases Escher’s mastery of optical illusions and his ability to create playful and intriguing images.

“Sky and Water I” is a woodcut print created by in 1938. The work is considered one of Escher’s most iconic and recognizable pieces.

Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher was a Dutch graphic artist born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He was widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, as well as his use of tessellations, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles.

Escher’s works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. He created many famous prints and drawings, including “Relativity,” “Sky and Water I,” and “Day and Night,” all of which showcase his fascination with impossible constructions and the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.

Escher’s works have had a profound influence on mathematics, art, and popular culture, and continue to be widely recognized and celebrated today. He is considered one of the greatest graphic artists of the 20th century, and his works are prized by collectors and art enthusiasts all over the world.

M.C. Escher is widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, and his works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. Some of his most famous works include:

“Relativity” – A lithograph that depicts a world where gravity and direction are relative and interchangeable.

“Waterfall” – A woodcut print that features a seemingly impossible flow of water that cascades upward and through a gear system before falling back down into a pool.

“Sky and Water I” – A woodcut print that features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other.

“Day and Night” – A woodcut print that features a world where the boundary between day and night is fluid and interchangeable.

“Metamorphosis III” – A lithograph that features a series of interlocking shapes that seem to change and transform into one another.

“Hands Drawing Hands” – A lithograph that features a series of hands drawing hands, creating a never-ending cycle of creation.

These works, and many others by Escher, continue to captivate and inspire audiences with their intricate details, playful illusions, and mathematical elegance.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.

Sign Up to Have Your Mind Blown

Sky and Water I by Escher

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Sky and Water I

“Sky and Water I” is a woodcut print created by M.C. Escher in 1938.

It is one of his most famous works and is widely recognized for its playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions.

The print features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other. The birds are arranged in a repeating pattern that forms a series of stylized waves, while the fish are arranged in a similar pattern that forms the background of the sky. The two patterns appear to be intertwined and interchangeable, creating an illusion of fluidity and transformation.

The print is notable for its use of tessellation, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles. The stylized waves and sky form a tessellation that covers the entire surface of the print, creating a sense of unity and coherence.

Overall, “Sky and Water I” is a visually striking and thought-provoking work that showcases Escher’s mastery of mathematical principles and his ability to create playful and intriguing optical illusions. The print continues to captivate audiences with its intricate details and its depiction of a world where birds and fish seem to transform into each other.


Sky and Water I
Sky and Water I by Escher


Table of Contents

How does Sky and Water I by Escher work?

The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Sky and Water I” work through a combination of tessellation, repetition, and transformation.

Tessellation is the repetition of shapes to form a seamless pattern, and in “Sky and Water I,” Escher uses tessellation to create a repeating pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other. The birds are arranged in a pattern that forms stylized waves, while the fish are arranged in a similar pattern that forms the background of the sky. The two patterns appear to be intertwined and interchangeable, creating an illusion of fluidity and transformation.

Repetition is used to create a sense of unity and coherence in the print. The stylized waves and sky form a tessellation that covers the entire surface of the print, creating a sense of unity and coherence.

The transformation between birds and fish is created through a visual play on the viewer’s perception. The shapes and patterns used to depict the birds and fish are similar, and the two patterns are arranged in such a way that they appear to transform into each other. This creates the illusion of a world where birds and fish seem to transform into each other, adding to the playful and intriguing nature of the print.

Overall, the illusions in “Sky and Water I” work through a combination of tessellation, repetition, and transformation. Escher’s mastery of these techniques creates a visually striking and thought-provoking image that continues to captivate audiences today.

Versions of Sky and Water I by Escher

The following are some alternate versions of Sky and Water I by Escher


Sky and Water I


Sky and Water I



Illusions like Sky and Water I by Escher

The illusions in M.C. Escher’s “Sky and Water I” are primarily optical illusions created through tessellation, repetition, and transformation.

The tessellation of stylized waves and sky creates the illusion of a repeating pattern that covers the entire surface of the print. This repetition creates a sense of unity and coherence in the work.

The transformation between birds and fish is created through a visual play on the viewer’s perception. The shapes and patterns used to depict the birds and fish are similar, and the two patterns are arranged in such a way that they appear to transform into each other. This creates the illusion of a world where birds and fish seem to transform into each other, adding to the playful and intriguing nature of the print.

Additionally, the print can be seen as a form of impossible construction, as the birds and fish seem to transform into each other in a way that is not possible in the real world. This creates a paradoxical and visually striking image that challenges the viewer’s perception.

Overall, “Sky and Water I” showcases a variety of illusions, including tessellation, repetition, transformation, and impossible constructions, which are used to create a visually striking and thought-provoking image.

Some related illusions include the following:

Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.

They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.

Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.

These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.

Penrose Shapes
Penrose Shapes


The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.

Pensrose Staircase
The Penrose Staircase Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.


Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

Impossible Cylinder

The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.

The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.


Creation of Sky and Water I by Escher

“Sky and Water I” is a woodcut print created by M.C. Escher in 1938. The work is considered one of Escher’s most iconic and recognizable pieces.

Maurits Cornelis (M.C.) Escher was a Dutch graphic artist born on June 17, 1898, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. He was widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, as well as his use of tessellations, or repeated patterns of shapes that fit together seamlessly like tiles.

Escher’s works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. He created many famous prints and drawings, including “Relativity,” “Sky and Water I,” and “Day and Night,” all of which showcase his fascination with impossible constructions and the interplay between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.

Escher’s works have had a profound influence on mathematics, art, and popular culture, and continue to be widely recognized and celebrated today. He is considered one of the greatest graphic artists of the 20th century, and his works are prized by collectors and art enthusiasts all over the world.

M.C. Escher is widely known for his mathematically inspired and often impossible constructions, and his works are characterized by their playfulness, intricate details, and optical illusions. Some of his most famous works include:

“Relativity” – A lithograph that depicts a world where gravity and direction are relative and interchangeable.

“Waterfall” – A woodcut print that features a seemingly impossible flow of water that cascades upward and through a gear system before falling back down into a pool.

“Sky and Water I” – A woodcut print that features an intricate pattern of birds and fish that seem to transform into each other.

“Day and Night” – A woodcut print that features a world where the boundary between day and night is fluid and interchangeable.

“Metamorphosis III” – A lithograph that features a series of interlocking shapes that seem to change and transform into one another.

“Hands Drawing Hands” – A lithograph that features a series of hands drawing hands, creating a never-ending cycle of creation.

These works, and many others by Escher, continue to captivate and inspire audiences with their intricate details, playful illusions, and mathematical elegance.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.

Sign Up to Have Your Mind Blown

Rorschach Inkblots

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rorschach inkblots

Rorschach inkblots are not considered an illusion in the traditional sense, but the process of interpretation can involve the phenomenon of pareidolia, where the person sees recognizable patterns or objects in the ambiguous inkblots. In this way, they can be considered illusory.

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon in which the brain unconsciously perceives recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli.

rorschach inkblots
Rorschach Inkblots


Table of Contents


How do Rorschach Inkblots work?

The Rorschach inkblots work by presenting the person with ambiguous stimuli, which the person then interprets based on their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

The process is often described as follows:

  1. Presentation of inkblots: The person is presented with a series of 10 inkblots, which are created by randomly splattering ink on a piece of paper and then folding the paper in half to create a symmetrical pattern.
  2. Interpretation: The person is asked to describe what they see in each inkblot. They can describe anything they see in the inkblot, such as objects, people, animals, or abstract patterns.
  3. Analysis: The person’s responses to the inkblots are analyzed by a trained psychologist or psychiatrist to gain insights into their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
  4. Evaluation: The person’s responses are evaluated based on various factors, including the content of their response, the type of response (e.g., human versus animal figures), and the number of responses given for each inkblot.

The Rorschach inkblots are designed to be ambiguous and open to interpretation, which allows the person’s unconscious mind to reveal itself through their responses.

The results of the test can provide important information about a person’s emotional functioning, thought processes, and underlying psychological patterns.

It’s important to note that the Rorschach test is just one tool among many used by psychologists and psychiatrists to assess a person’s mental health and well-being, and its results should be considered in conjunction with other sources of information.


Versions of Rorschach Inkblots

The following are some alternate versions of Rorschach Inkblots:



rorschach inkblots



rorschach inkblots



Illusions like Rorschach Inkblots

Some examples of illusions like Rorschach Inkblots:

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon in which the brain unconsciously perceives recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli.

This can manifest in various ways, such as seeing faces in clouds, the moon, or other random shapes, hearing recognizable sounds in random noise, or interpreting random data as having meaningful significance.

Pareidolia is a type of apophenia, which is the tendency to see meaningful patterns in random or meaningless data. It is a natural part of human cognition and can serve as a survival mechanism, helping the brain to quickly identify potential threats in the environment.

However, pareidolia can also lead to misunderstandings and false perceptions. For example, some people might see religious imagery or messages in random patterns, leading to claims of miracles or supernatural phenomena. In other cases, pareidolia can lead to overinterpretation of scientific data or to conspiracy theories.

Overall, pareidolia is a fascinating aspect of human cognition and serves as an important reminder of the limitations of human perception and interpretation.



Illusory contours are visual stimuli that appear to form a boundary or shape, but in reality do not exist as a solid object.

Illusory contours are created by the brain’s interpretation of visual information, such as the arrangement and contrast of lines and shapes in the visual field.

The brain perceives these stimuli as a solid edge or contour, even though no physical boundary is present. Illusory contours are a well-known phenomenon in the field of visual perception, and are often used to study the brain’s interpretation of visual information.


Illusory Contour
Illusory Contours – Ehrenstein Figure


The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.

The three Pac-Man-like shapes are actually made up of three partially-overlapping circles with white edges that create the illusion of a triangle.

Kanizsa Triangle Illusion
The Kanizsa Triangle


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

The illusion is created by the way the brain organizes the visual information in the image, and how it interprets the relationships between the different features of the image. The duck-rabbit illusion is one of the most famous and oldest examples of an ambiguous image.


Duck Rabbit Illusion


The “My wife and my mother-in-law” illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

The illusion is created by the way the brain organizes the visual information in the image, and how it interprets the relationships between the different features of the face.




The Café Wall illusion: an illusion in which the lines that form a tiled wall appear to be skewed or distorted due to the presence of contrasting colored tiles.

Cafe Wall Illusion



The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion involves circles of different sizes, but with the same-sized circles placed close to each other. The brain perceives the smaller circles as being larger when they are placed next to larger circles.

Ebbinghaus Illusion


The T illusion: This illusion involves a T-shaped figure with a horizontal bar and a vertical bar. The brain perceives the vertical bar as being longer than the horizontal bar, even though they are the same length.


T Illusion

The Ambiguous Walk Illusion combines elements of Ambiguous illusions and Rorschach Inkblots to create a cool illusion.

Ambiguous Walk
Ambiguous Walk Illusion


Discovery of Rorschach Inkblots

The Rorschach inkblots were created by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach.

He developed the test in the early 20th century as a tool for exploring a person’s unconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.

Rorschach was interested in the way that people perceive and interpret ambiguous stimuli, and he believed that the Rorschach inkblots could be used to gain insights into a person’s unconscious mind.

Rorschach’s work on the inkblots was initially met with skepticism by the psychiatric community, but over time it gained widespread recognition and became an important tool in the field of psychology.

Today, the Rorschach test is one of the most well-known and widely used psychological tests, although its use has also been the subject of much debate and controversy.

Nevertheless, Rorschach’s legacy continues to influence the field of psychology, and his work remains an important part of the history of modern psychology.

Hermann Rorschach was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who is best known for his work on the Rorschach inkblot test. He was born on November 8, 1884 in Zurich, Switzerland, and he studied medicine at the University of Zurich, where he later became a practicing psychiatrist.

Rorschach became interested in the way that people perceive and interpret ambiguous stimuli, and he believed that the Rorschach inkblots could be used to gain insights into a person’s unconscious mind. He developed the Rorschach inkblot test as a tool for exploring a person’s unconscious thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, and his work on the inkblots was initially met with skepticism by the psychiatric community.

Despite the initial skepticism, Rorschach’s work gained recognition over time and became an important tool in the field of psychology. Today, the Rorschach test is one of the most well-known and widely used psychological tests, although its use has also been the subject of much debate and controversy.

Rorschach died on April 2, 1922 at the age of 37, but his legacy continues to influence the field of psychology. He is remembered as an innovative thinker who made important contributions to the understanding of human perception and unconscious processes.


References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.

Pareidolia

by
Pareidolia

Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon in which the brain unconsciously perceives recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli.

This can manifest in various ways, such as seeing faces in clouds, the moon, or other random shapes, hearing recognizable sounds in random noise, or interpreting random data as having meaningful significance.

Pareidolia is a type of apophenia, which is the tendency to see meaningful patterns in random or meaningless data. It is a natural part of human cognition and can serve as a survival mechanism, helping the brain to quickly identify potential threats in the environment.

However, pareidolia can also lead to misunderstandings and false perceptions. For example, some people might see religious imagery or messages in random patterns, leading to claims of miracles or supernatural phenomena. In other cases, pareidolia can lead to overinterpretation of scientific data or to conspiracy theories.

Overall, pareidolia is a fascinating aspect of human cognition and serves as an important reminder of the limitations of human perception and interpretation.

Pareidolia
Pareidolia


Table of Contents


How does Pareidolia work?

Pareidolia works by the brain unconsciously perceiving recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli.

The brain is wired to recognize patterns and make sense of the world around us, and pareidolia is an example of how this process can sometimes lead to false perceptions.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Ambiguous stimuli: The brain is presented with stimuli that is unclear or open to interpretation, such as a random arrangement of shapes or a series of sounds that lack a clear pattern.
  2. Pattern recognition: The brain naturally seeks to identify patterns and make sense of the stimuli. In the case of pareidolia, it perceives recognizable patterns or objects in the ambiguous stimuli.
  3. False perception: The brain unconsciously creates a false perception of the stimuli, seeing a face in a cloud, for example, or hearing recognizable sounds in random noise.
  4. Confirmation bias: The brain tends to look for evidence to support its initial perception, leading to a confirmation bias that reinforces the false perception.

Overall, pareidolia works by the brain unconsciously perceiving recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli, leading to the creation of a false perception.

While pareidolia can serve important functions, such as helping the brain to quickly identify potential threats in the environment, it can also lead to misunderstandings and false perceptions.


Versions of Pareidolia

The following are some alternate versions of Pareidolia:

Pareidolia


Pareidolia



Illusions like Pareidolia

Pareidolia is a type of perceptual illusion, specifically a form of apophenia. Apophenia is the tendency to see meaningful patterns or connections in random or meaningless data.

In the case of pareidolia, the brain unconsciously perceives recognizable patterns or objects in random or ambiguous stimuli, leading to the creation of a false perception.

For example, seeing faces in clouds, hearing recognizable sounds in random noise, or interpreting random data as having meaningful significance.

Pareidolia is a form of visual illusion in that it involves the misinterpretation of sensory information, leading to a false perception of patterns or objects in the environment.

It is also related to other types of illusions, such as optical illusions and auditory illusions, in that it involves the misperception of sensory information.

Some examples of illusions like Pareidolia include:

Illusory contours are visual stimuli that appear to form a boundary or shape, but in reality do not exist as a solid object.

Illusory contours are created by the brain’s interpretation of visual information, such as the arrangement and contrast of lines and shapes in the visual field.

The brain perceives these stimuli as a solid edge or contour, even though no physical boundary is present. Illusory contours are a well-known phenomenon in the field of visual perception, and are often used to study the brain’s interpretation of visual information.


Illusory Contour
Illusory Contours – Ehrenstein Figure


The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.

The three Pac-Man-like shapes are actually made up of three partially-overlapping circles with white edges that create the illusion of a triangle.

Kanizsa Triangle Illusion
The Kanizsa Triangle

The Muller-Lyer illusion: an illusion in which two lines of the same length appear to be of different lengths due to the presence of arrowheads at the ends of the lines.


müller-lyer illusion



The Poggendorff illusion: an illusion in which two lines that are parallel in reality appear to be skewed or converging due to the presence of a third shape in the foreground.


Poggendorff illusion transparent gray bar



The Café Wall illusion: an illusion in which the lines that form a tiled wall appear to be skewed or distorted due to the presence of contrasting colored tiles.

Cafe Wall Illusion



The Zöllner illusion: an illusion in which parallel lines appear to be skewed or converging due to the presence of intersecting lines at an angle.

Zöllner illusion

The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion involves circles of different sizes, but with the same-sized circles placed close to each other. The brain perceives the smaller circles as being larger when they are placed next to larger circles.

Ebbinghaus Illusion


The T illusion: This illusion involves a T-shaped figure with a horizontal bar and a vertical bar. The brain perceives the vertical bar as being longer than the horizontal bar, even though they are the same length.


T Illusion


Moon illusion: This illusion involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.


Moon Illusion



Ponzo illusion: This illusion involves the perception of an object appearing larger or smaller depending on the size of the surrounding context.

Ponzo Illusion


All these illusions work by exploiting the way the brain processes visual information and the way it interprets the relationship between different elements in an image. Illusory contours are thought to be created by the activity of neurons that respond selectively to edges and contours in the visual field, which can be influenced by different visual cues.


Discovery of Pareidolia

The phenomenon of pareidolia has been known and documented by humans for centuries, but it wasn’t given a formal name or systematic study until modern times.

The term “pareidolia” was first used by psychologist Carl Jung in the early 20th century to describe the tendency to see meaningful patterns in random stimuli.

Since then, pareidolia has been the subject of research and study in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and perception, with many scientists and researchers exploring the underlying mechanisms and implications of this phenomenon.

While it’s difficult to say who exactly “discovered” pareidolia, Carl Jung’s use of the term marked a major step forward in the systematic study and understanding of this fascinating aspect of human cognition.

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist who was born in Kesswil, Switzerland in 1875. He is best known as the founder of analytical psychology, which is a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in shaping human behavior and experience.

Jung’s work was deeply influenced by his training in psychiatry and his interest in Eastern philosophy, spirituality, and mythology. He developed the concept of the collective unconscious, which is the idea that the unconscious mind is not just personal, but also collective, containing universal archetypes and symbols that are shared by all humans.

Jung’s ideas have had a significant impact on the field of psychology and on the larger culture, influencing fields such as literature, film, and art. He wrote many influential books and articles, including “Man and His Symbols,” “Memories, Dreams, Reflections,” and “The Interpretation of Dreams.”

Overall, Carl Jung was a highly influential figure in the field of psychology and is considered one of the founding figures of modern psychology. His ideas continue to shape our understanding of the human mind and human behavior to this day.


References and Resources

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Infinity Mirror

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Infinity mirror

An infinity mirror is a type of optical illusion created by reflecting a source of light repeatedly between two parallel mirrors, creating a seemingly infinite series of reflections that fade into the distance.

The effect is achieved by using one mirror that is partially transparent, allowing some of the light to pass through and escape from the series of reflections.

This creates the illusion of an infinite reflection, hence the name “infinity mirror.” Infinity mirrors are often used for artistic or decorative purposes and can add a mesmerizing effect to any space.


Infinity mirror
Infinity mirror


Table of Contents

How do Infinity Mirrors work?

An infinity mirror works by reflecting light between two parallel mirrors.

The first mirror is a regular mirror, while the second mirror is partially transparent, allowing some of the light to escape and pass through to the other side.

Here’s how it works in detail:

  1. A light source, such as an LED light, is placed at one end of the mirror setup.
  2. The light from the source is reflected by the first mirror, creating a reflection.
  3. This reflection is then reflected by the second mirror, and the process is repeated multiple times, creating a series of reflections that appear to fade into the distance.
  4. The partially transparent mirror allows some of the light to pass through, creating the illusion that the reflections are continuing into the distance.
  5. The final result is an optical illusion of an infinitely long series of reflections, hence the name “infinity mirror.”

This illusion can be created in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be used for artistic or decorative purposes.

The mesmerizing effect of an infinity mirror often captivates viewers and can add a unique touch to any room or space.

Versions of the Infinity Mirrors

The following are some alternate versions of the Infinity Mirrors:

Infinity mirror


Infinity mirror




Illusions like Infinity Mirrors

An infinity mirror is a type of optical illusion that creates a seemingly endless series of reflections.

It’s a perceptual illusion that tricks the mind into perceiving a much larger space than what is actually present.

The reflection of light between two mirrors is what creates the illusion, and the partially transparent mirror that allows some of the light to escape is what gives the illusion its depth and makes it appear as though the reflections go on forever.

This illusion is often used for artistic or decorative purposes and can create a fascinating and mesmerizing effect.

Some related illusions include the following:

Anamorphic street art is a form of street art that uses optical illusion to create a three-dimensional image when viewed from a specific angle.

Anamorphic street art is often created by distorting the image, so that when it is viewed from a specific viewpoint, the image appears to be three-dimensional and in full perspective.

It is often seen as a way of transforming urban spaces into playful, interactive environments.

Anamorphic street art
Anamorphic Street Art

The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.

Pensrose Staircase
The Penrose Staircase Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.

Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

Impossible Cylinder

The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.

The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.


Discovery of Infinity Mirrors

The concept of an infinity mirror is not necessarily the invention of a single person. The use of mirrors to create optical illusions and the idea of using partially reflective surfaces to create an illusion of depth have been around for centuries.

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist helped popularize the infinity mirrow. She is known for her work in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, installation art, performance art, and literary works. Born in 1929 in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama has been a major figure in the international art world for many years and is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Kusama is perhaps best known for her large-scale installations, many of which feature repetitive patterns and shapes that are intended to evoke a sense of infinite space. One of her signature forms of expression is the use of the infinity mirror, which she has used in a variety of ways throughout her career.

Her work is characterized by its vibrant colors, bold forms, and repetitive patterns, and she often creates immersive, multi-sensory installations that challenge conventional perceptions of space and time. Kusama’s work has been widely exhibited in museums and galleries around the world and has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions and retrospectives. Today, she continues to work and create new works of art, and her influence on the art world is widely acknowledged.

References and Resources

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Penrose Figures

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Penrose Shapes

Penrose figures are impossible objects that were first described by the mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.

They are optical illusions that depict objects that appear to violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry. Penrose figures are typically drawn or represented as two-dimensional images, but they create the illusion of a three-dimensional object that cannot actually exist in the real world.

Some common examples of Penrose figures include the Penrose triangle, which appears to have vertices that join in impossible ways, and the Penrose stair, which appears to be a staircase that goes on forever, with the steps constantly descending and yet never reaching the bottom.

These figures challenge our perception of the world and have been used in art, architecture, and psychology to study the workings of the human mind and the limits of human perception.

Penrose Shapes
Penrose Shapes

Table of Contents

How do the Penrose Shapes work?

Penrose shapes work by exploiting the limitations of human perception.

They create the illusion of objects that violate the laws of three-dimensional geometry, by arranging two-dimensional lines and shapes in such a way as to suggest depth and perspective.

Our brains interpret these lines and shapes as representing a three-dimensional object, even though the object depicted is physically impossible.

The illusion arises because our brain relies on certain assumptions and expectations about the way objects should behave in space, and these assumptions are violated by the impossible objects depicted in Penrose figures.

As a result, our perception of the object is altered, and we see something that is not actually there.

The exact way that Penrose figures work is still not fully understood, and they continue to be a subject of study in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and mathematics.

Penrose shapes have been used to study cognitive psychology and perception as it is a good example of how the human brain can be deceived by visual illusions, and also how we perceive and interpret visual information.

Versions of the Penrose Shapes

The following are some alternate versions of the Penrose Shapes:

Penrose Pentagram
Penrose Pentagram


Penrose torus
Penrose Torus




Penrose Pentabar
Penrose Pentabar

Penrose Trefoil
Penrose Trefoil

Penrose Angstrom
Penrose Angstrom



Illusions like Penrose Shapes

Penrose shapes are an optical illusion. They create the illusion of three-dimensional objects that appear to violate the laws of geometry, and as a result, our perception of the object is altered, and we see something that is not actually there.

Penrose shapes are a type of impossible object, which are objects that appear to be logically and physically impossible.

They are also a type of Paradox illusion. Paradox illusions are a type of optical illusion that involve images that appear to be self-contradictory or impossible. They typically involve the manipulation of visual cues such as size, shape, movement, and depth perception to create an image that appears to be impossible or defies our understanding of the physical world.

In general, these illusions work by exploiting the way the visual system processes information. The brain relies on certain cues, such as perspective, shading, and texture, to infer the 3D structure of an object. When these cues are manipulated in a certain way, the brain can be fooled into perceiving an impossible or self-contradictory image.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Penrose stairs, also known as the impossible staircase or the Penrose steps, is a visual illusion in the form of an impossible object created by the mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose.

The illusion is a two-dimensional representation of a staircase that appears to ascend or descend indefinitely, yet is physically impossible to climb or descend because the steps are not connected in a logical manner.

It is often used as an example of the type of optical illusion that can occur in the human brain and is used in cognitive psychology to study perception and attention.

Pensrose Staircase
The Penrose Staircase Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Penrose Triangle

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.

Rubin Vase Classic Black and White


The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion

The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.

Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.

Impossible Cube Illusion


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cylinder is an impossible shape resembling a cylinder similar to the Penrose triangle, impossible cube, and the impossible trident.

Impossible Cylinder

The Shepard elephant illusion is an optical illusion that was created by the artist David H. Shepard. The illusion is a black-and-white line drawing of an elephant that appears to be three-dimensional and in motion, despite being a flat, static image.

The illusion is created by using a technique called “anamorphosis,” which involves distorting an image in a specific way so that when it is viewed from a certain angle or perspective, it appears to be in a different form or shape.


Discovery of Penrose Shapes

Penrose shapes were first described by the British mathematician and philosopher Roger Penrose in the 1950s.

He published a paper on the topic in 1958, in which he introduced the concept of impossible objects and demonstrated how they could be used to create illusions that challenge our perception of the world. P

enrose’s work was inspired by the artist M.C. Escher, who was known for his use of impossible objects in his art, and Penrose sought to understand the mathematical and perceptual principles behind these illusions. His work laid the foundation for the field of impossible objects, and his name has become synonymous with the concept of impossible figures.

Today, Penrose shapes continue to be a subject of study in the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and mathematics, and they are widely recognized as one of the most famous examples of optical illusions.

One of the more famous Penrose shapes, the Penrose stairs, was first created by the British mathematician and physicist Roger Penrose and his father Lionel Penrose, a psychiatrist and mathematician, in the 1950s.

Sir Roger Penrose is a renowned British mathematical physicist and Nobel laureate. He was born in 1931 and is still active today. He is known for his work in the fields of cosmology, general relativity, and quantum mechanics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, jointly with Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez, for his contributions to the understanding of the properties of black holes.

Penrose’s research has focused on the fundamental nature of space and time and the structure of the universe, he proposed new ways of understanding the Big Bang, black holes, and the nature of the universe itself. He has also been interested in the connection between physics and mathematics, particularly in the area of geometry. Penrose has written several books on these topics, which have been widely read and discussed by both scientists and the general public.

Penrose is also known for his work on the concept of “cosmic censorship” which is a theory that states that the singularities that occur in black holes are always hidden from the outside observer. He also developed new mathematical techniques, such as the Penrose diagram, which are used to describe the behavior of black holes and other singularities. Penrose is considered one of the most influential theoretical physicist of the 20th century and his work has had a significant impact on our understanding of the universe.

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Horsemaning

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Horsemaning

Horsemaning is a photography trick that creates an illusion of a person’s head being detached from the body and replaced by a horse’s head.

It’s achieved by aligning the head and body in such a way that it appears as though the head has been replaced. This trick became popular in the early 2000s and is now sometimes referred to as “headless horsemaning.”

Horsemaning
Horsemaning

Table of Contents


How does Horsemaning work?

Horsemaning works by aligning the person’s head and body in such a way that the head appears to be detached from the body.

This is typically done by taking a photo of a person from the waist up, with the head tilted forward, so that the head is obscured by the body.

Then, a second photo of a horse’s head is taken and carefully aligned with the first photo so that the horse’s head appears to be attached to the body.

The final image is created by merging the two photos together in a way that makes it appear as though the person’s head has been replaced by the horse’s head.

The effect is created by careful attention to detail, such as ensuring that the lighting and perspective match between the two photos, to create a seamless and convincing illusion.


Versions of the Horsemaning

The following are some examples of Horsemaning


Horsemaning



Horsemaning




Horsemaning



Illusions like Horsemaning

Horsemaning is a photographic illusion. It creates the illusion of a person’s head being detached from the body and replaced by a horse’s head.

This is achieved by careful alignment of the head and body in a photo to create the appearance of a horse’s head in place of the person’s head.

The final image gives the appearance of a detached head floating in the air, creating a surreal and amusing visual trick.

Some similar illusions are as follows:

Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.

It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.

Forced Perspective
Forced Perspective


The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.


Ponzo illusion
The Ponzo Illusion


The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.



Ebbinghaus Illusion

The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.





The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.

The occlusion illusion

The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.

müller-lyer illusion


The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.

The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.


All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.

Discovery of Horsemaning

The origins of horsemaning are unclear, and it is difficult to determine who first started the trend.

This photographic trick has been around since the early 2000s, and became popular on social media platforms such as Facebook and MySpace.

Since then, it has been adopted by photographers and people all over the world as a fun way to create creative and surreal photos.

It’s likely that many people independently discovered this trick and started experimenting with it, so it’s impossible to credit a single person or group with starting the trend.

References and Resources

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Anamorphosis

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Anamorphosis

Anamorphosis is a technique in art and optics that involves creating an image that appears distorted or irregular when viewed from one perspective, but appears normal or regular when viewed from another perspective or with the use of a specialized tool, such as a mirror or a cylindrical lens.

Anamorphosis
Anamorphosis

Table of Contents

How does Anamorphosis work?

In anamorphic art, the image is typically drawn or painted in such a way that it is only recognizable when viewed from a specific angle or with the use of a specialized tool. The technique was widely used in the Renaissance period, particularly in the field of cartography, to represent three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces.

Anamorphosis can also be used to create optical illusions, where the distorted image appears to change or move when viewed from different angles. The technique is used in various fields, including art, architecture, and engineering, and provides a way to create images that are impossible to represent using conventional perspective techniques.

Overall, anamorphosis is a fascinating and versatile technique that demonstrates the interplay between art and science, and highlights the importance of perception and the role that context and perspective play in shaping our interpretation of the world.

Anamorphosis works by creating an image that is distorted or irregular when viewed from one perspective, but appears normal or regular when viewed from another perspective or with the use of a specialized tool, such as a mirror or a cylindrical lens.

The basic idea behind anamorphosis is to manipulate the scale of the image elements along one or more dimensions in such a way that the image appears distorted or irregular when viewed from a particular perspective. To create an anamorphic image, the artist must carefully adjust the position and size of the image elements to account for the distortion that will be introduced by the viewing angle or tool.

For example, an anamorphic image may be created by projecting an image onto a flat surface at an angle, such that the image appears distorted when viewed directly from the front. When viewed from a specific angle or with the use of a specialized tool, such as a cylindrical mirror, the image appears normal or regular.

Famous Anamorphosis Artists

Anamorphosis is a fascinating and versatile technique that demonstrates the interplay between art and science, and highlights the importance of perception and the role that context and perspective play in shaping our interpretation of the world.

Anamorphosis has been used by various artists throughout history, including some of the most famous and influential artists of their time. Here are a few notable artists who have used anamorphosis in their work:

  1. Leonardo da Vinci: Da Vinci was one of the earliest artists to experiment with anamorphosis and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the technique. He used anamorphosis in his sketches and drawings to represent three-dimensional objects on two-dimensional surfaces.
  2. Hans Holbein the Younger: Holbein was a German artist who lived in the 16th century and was known for his portraits, paintings, and drawings. He used anamorphosis in his portraits to create striking and unusual effects, and many of his anamorphic paintings are still regarded as some of the finest examples of the technique.
  3. René Magritte: Magritte was a Belgian surrealist artist who was known for his paintings, illustrations, and collages. He used anamorphosis in his paintings to create illusions and to challenge the viewer’s perception of reality.
  4. M. C. Escher: Escher was a Dutch graphic artist who is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He used anamorphosis in his prints, lithographs, and drawings to create impossible objects and to challenge the viewer’s perception of space and time.

These are just a few of the many artists who have used anamorphosis in their work, and there are many other artists who have also explored this fascinating technique. Overall, anamorphosis is a powerful tool for artists to create striking and unusual effects, to challenge the viewer’s perception, and to demonstrate the interplay between art and science.

Versions of Anamorphosis

The following are some examples of Anamorphosis


Anamorphosis



Anamorphosis




Anamorphosis



Illusions like Anamorphosis

Some similar illusions are as follows:

Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”

It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.

Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.

Trompe-l'œil Capri
Trompe-L’œil


Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.

It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.

Forced Perspective
Forced Perspective


The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.


Ponzo illusion
The Ponzo Illusion


The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.


Ebbinghaus Illusion

The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.



The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.

The occlusion illusion

The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.

müller-lyer illusion

The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.

The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.


All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.


Discovery of Anamorphosis

The concept of anamorphosis has a long history and has been used by artists and scientists for many centuries. It is not clear who specifically discovered the technique, as it likely evolved over time and was developed independently by different artists and scientists in various cultures.

However, the Renaissance period marked a major period of experimentation and development in the use of anamorphosis in art and optics, and many of the most famous artists of the time, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Hans Holbein the Younger, made important contributions to the development of the technique.

Overall, it is difficult to credit the discovery of anamorphosis to a single individual, as it is likely a result of the collective work and experimentation of many artists and scientists over a long period of time.

References and Resources

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Figure Ground Illusions

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Figure Ground Illusions

Figure ground illusions are a type of perceptual illusion that play with our ability to distinguish between the figure, or the object of focus, and the ground, or the background.

Figure ground illusions work by creating ambiguity or conflict in the visual information that the brain receives, leading to an instability in our perception of what is the figure and what is the background.

As a result, our perception of the figure and the background can alternate, or both can be perceived simultaneously, creating an illusion.

Figure Ground Illusions
Figure Ground Illusions


Table of Contents


How do Figure Ground Illusions work?

Figure-ground illusions work by exploiting the way our visual system organizes visual information into distinct objects and backgrounds. Our brain is naturally wired to identify objects and separate them from the background, and it uses various cues, such as edges, color, and texture, to do this. In a figure-ground illusion, the information presented creates an ambiguity or conflict in the visual cues, leading to an instability in our perception of what is the figure and what is the background.

One way that figure-ground illusions work is by creating a clash between the global and local processing of visual information. Our visual system processes information both globally, taking into account the overall configuration of the image, and locally, focusing on the details of the individual elements. In a figure-ground illusion, the global and local processing systems can come into conflict, leading to an instability in the perception of the figure and the background.

Another way that figure-ground illusions work is by creating an ambiguity in the perceptual organization of the visual information. For example, in the Rubin vase illusion, the black lines that form the vase could also be perceived as the spaces between the black shapes, creating an ambiguity about what is the figure and what is the background.

Overall, figure-ground illusions demonstrate the importance of context and the active role that our brain plays in shaping our perception of the world. They highlight the dynamic nature of perception and show how our brain can rapidly switch between different interpretations of the same information.

Versions of Figure Ground Illusions

The following are some alternate versions of Figure Ground Illusions:


Figure Ground Illusions


Rubin Vase Example Idaho
From Wikimedia Commons
Is it an image of the US State Idaho or a person’s face?



Figure Ground Illusions



Figure Ground Illusions



Illusions like Figure Ground Illusions

In a figure-ground illusion, the brain receives ambiguous or conflicting information about what is the figure and what is the background, leading to an instability in the perception of the two. As a result, the figure and the background can appear to switch or can be perceived simultaneously, creating an illusion. Figure-ground illusions demonstrate the dynamic nature of perception and the active role that our brain plays in constructing a meaningful representation of the world based on the available sensory information.

Ambiguous illusions are a type of perceptual illusion that involve the presentation of information that can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to conflicting or unstable perceptions. The brain is faced with an ambiguity, or uncertainty, about what to interpret as the figure and what to interpret as the background, leading to a switch between different interpretations of the same information.

In an ambiguous illusion, the same set of visual elements can be perceived in multiple ways, and the perception can switch rapidly and unpredictably between these interpretations. Some well-known examples of ambiguous illusions include the Rubin vase, the Necker cube, and the Schröder staircase.

Ambiguous illusions demonstrate the dynamic and active nature of perception, and highlight the importance of context and the role that our brain plays in shaping our interpretation of the world. They also provide valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of visual perception and the way that the brain processes and interprets sensory information.

Some related illusions include the following:

The Rubin vase, also known as the Rubin face or the figure-ground vase, is a famous optical illusion in which the image of a vase can also be perceived as two faces in profile looking at each other.

The illusion is named after the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin, who described it in his 1915 book “Visual Perception”.

The Rubin vase illustrates the principle of figure-ground perception, which is the ability of the human visual system to separate an object from its background.

Rubin Vase Classic Black and White
The Rubin Vase Illusion




The duck-rabbit illusion is an optical illusion that is an image that can be perceived as either a duck or a rabbit depending on how the viewer looks at it.

Duck Rabbit Illusion


The Necker cube is an optical illusion that features a simple wireframe drawing of a cube. The cube appears to switch back and forth between two different orientations.

Necker Cube

The My Wife and My Mother-in-Law illusion is an optical illusion with an image of a young woman’s face that can also be perceived as an older woman’s face.

Wife and Mother In Law

The Schröder Staircase is an optical illusion that features a drawing of a staircase. The staircase appears to be either ascending or descending, depending on how the brain interprets the angles of the lines.


Schroeders_stairs
From Wikimedia Commons

The impossible cube is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.


Impossible Cube Illusion


The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, is an optical illusion that depicts a three-dimensional object that is physically impossible to construct.


Penrose Triangle


The impossible trident is a three-pronged impossible shape resembling a trident. It is usually depicted as a three-pronged fork with each prong appearing to be a continuation of the next, creating an impossible shape.

Impossible Trident
From Wikimedia Commons

The spinning dancer illusion is a visual illusion that depicts a silhouette of a dancer spinning clockwise or counterclockwise. The direction of the dancer’s spin can appear to change depending on the viewer’s perception

Spinning Dancer Gif
From Wikimedia Commons

The Monroe-Einstein illusion works by playing with the viewer’s expectations about the relationships between the features of the faces and the viewer’s sense of facial proportions.

Monroe-Einstein


Discovery of the Rubin Vase Illusion

The concept of figure-ground perception is generally attributed to the Danish psychologist Edgar Rubin,

Rubin introduced the concept in 1915 in his book “Visuelle Figuren” (Visual Figures), where he described the principle of figure-ground organization and its role in shaping our perception of the world. Rubin’s work laid the foundation for the study of figure-ground perception and had a profound impact on the field of psychology and the study of visual perception.

Rubin’s contribution to the study of figure-ground perception is widely recognized and his name is often associated with the concept. However, it’s worth noting that the idea of figure-ground perception has roots in the work of other psychologists and artists, who explored the role of visual perception in shaping our interpretation of the world. Nevertheless, Rubin is widely credited with introducing the concept of figure-ground perception and advancing our understanding of its role in shaping our perception.

Edgar Rubin was a Danish psychologist and author. He is best known for his work on visual perception and his 1915 book “Visual Perception” in which he described the Rubin vase illusion.

Rubin was born in 1882 and received his PhD in psychology from the University of Copenhagen in 1911.

He worked as a professor of psychology at the University of Copenhagen and later at the University of Aarhus.

He was a leading figure in the field of perception research and also made contributions to the study of memory and attention. Rubin died in 1948.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.

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Trompe-L’œil

by
Trompe-l'œil Capri

Trompe-l’œil is a French term that means “trick the eye.”

It refers to a style of art that uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create the illusion of depth and a life-like appearance.

Trompe-l’œil paintings and murals are often used to create the illusion of an extended space or to make a room appear larger than it actually is.

Trompe-l'œil Capri
Trompe-L’œil

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How does Trompe-L’œil work?

Trompe-l’œil works by creating the illusion of three-dimensional objects and space on a flat surface. The artist uses techniques such as perspective, shading, and texturing to create a highly realistic representation of the objects and to create the illusion of depth.

The techniques used in Trompe-l’œil take advantage of the way that the human visual system processes images. Our brains use cues such as size, shading, and perspective to determine the distance and depth of objects in our visual field. In Trompe-l’œil, the artist carefully manipulates these cues to create the illusion of depth and to make the objects appear to be physically present.

For example, in a Trompe-l’œil painting, the artist might use linear perspective to create the illusion of receding space. Objects that are closer to the viewer will appear larger, while objects that are further away will appear smaller. The artist will also use shading and texturing to create the illusion of depth and to make the objects appear more lifelike.

Trompe-l’œil works by tricking the brain into perceiving the two-dimensional image as a three-dimensional object, creating an illusion that is both fascinating and convincing. This is why Trompe-l’œil remains one of the most popular forms of visual illusion, and why it continues to be used today in various forms of art and design.

The technique of Trompe-l’œil has a long history, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome, and has been used throughout the centuries in various forms of art, including painting, sculpture, and architecture. In Trompe-l’œil, the artist uses a variety of techniques, such as perspective, shading, and texturing, to create the illusion of depth and to make the objects appear to be physically present.

Trompe-l’œil is often used in interior design, particularly for creating the illusion of an extended space or for creating a decorative feature on a wall or ceiling. It is also used in theatrical design, where it can be used to create the illusion of a larger stage or to create a realistic backdrop.

Trompe-l’œil is a popular art form that continues to be used today, and it remains one of the most fascinating and intriguing forms of visual illusion.

Versions of Trompe-L’œil

The following are some examples of Trompe-L’œil


Trompe-l'œil Copenhagen Zoo



Trompe-l'œil venice




Trompe-l'œil



Illusions like Trompe-L’œil

Trompe-l’œil is a type of optical illusion that creates the illusion of three-dimensional objects and space on a flat surface.

It falls under the category of visual perception illusions, which manipulate the way that the brain processes images to create an illusion that is different from reality. Trompe-l’œil is unique in that it uses realistic depictions of three-dimensional objects to create a highly convincing illusion of depth and physical presence.

Trompe-l’œil is often considered a form of representational art, as it creates a representation of three-dimensional objects. However, it is also a form of illusion, as the objects are not actually present in physical space, but are instead a two-dimensional representation that tricks the brain into perceiving them as three-dimensional.

Overall, Trompe-l’œil can be classified as a type of optical illusion, visual perception illusion, and representational art, depending on the context and the focus of the discussion.

Some similar illusions are as follows:

Forced perspective is a technique used in photography, architecture, and other visual arts to manipulate the perception of the size and distance of objects.

It creates the illusion of a larger or smaller object, or of one that is closer or farther away, by carefully controlling the angles, proportions, and placement of objects in the scene.

Forced Perspective
Forced Perspective

The Ponzo illusion is a type of visual illusion in which a pair of parallel lines, or a horizontal bar, appear to be of different lengths based on the presence of a converging or diverging set of lines, often resembling the converging parallel lines of a road or railway track, placed above and below them.

Ponzo illusion
The Ponzo Illusion

The Ebbinghaus illusion: This illusion is similar to the Delboeuf illusion but in this case the central circle appears larger when surrounded by smaller circles and smaller when surrounded by larger circles.

Ebbinghaus Illusion

The Delboeuf illusion is a perceptual illusion in which the perceived size of a circle is affected by the size of the surrounding circles.


The Occlusion illusion is a visual illusion where an object that is partially obscured by another object appears to be farther away than it actually is. This illusion is caused by the brain’s interpretation of the relative depth of the objects based on their relative size and position. This phenomenon is based on the visual cues that the brain uses to perceive depth, such as relative size, position, and overlap.

The occlusion illusion

The Müller-Lyer illusion is a classic example of size-contrast illusion, in which two lines of equal length appear to be different due to the presence of arrowheads or fins at the end of the lines.

müller-lyer illusion

The moon illusions involves the perception of the Moon appearing larger when it is near the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky.

The Kanizsa triangle is a visual illusion that was first described by the Italian psychologist Gaetano Kanizsa in 1955. The illusion consists of a white equilateral triangle that appears to be surrounded by three Pac-Man-like shapes, which are black and have white crescents facing inwards.

All these illusions demonstrate that the perceived size of an object can be influenced by the context in which it is presented, and that the brain uses the size of the surrounding objects as a reference point to judge the size of the central object.


Discovery of Trompe-L’œil

The exact origin of Trompe-l’œil as an art form is unclear, but it is thought to have been developed and popularized in ancient Greece and Rome. The technique was used in various forms throughout the centuries, and it was later adopted and refined by Renaissance artists in Italy.

It is difficult to attribute the discovery of Trompe-l’œil to a single individual, as the technique has a long history and has been used by many artists and cultures over the centuries. However, some of the most famous Trompe-l’œil artists from the Renaissance include Italian painters such as Andrea Pozzo, Giuseppe Maria Crespi, and Pietro da Cortona. These artists used Trompe-l’œil to create highly realistic murals and frescoes that adorned the ceilings and walls of churches, palaces, and private residences.

Overall, while no one person can be credited with discovering Trompe-l’œil, the art form has a rich and fascinating history that has been shaped and influenced by many artists and cultures over the centuries.

References and Resources

Check out our complete list of illusions.