Impossible objects
Seeing things that
are not there
Here on the left, we see two
overlapping triangles: one outlined
in black beneath another in solid
white. Neither triangle exists, but we
believe we see them because enough
fragmentary information is given for
our brains to conclude they are very
likely there. Below is a brightness
contrast illusion. Count the number
of dark spots you can see. This effect
can occur naturally when looking at
a brightly lit white grid such as a
window frame against the night sky.
Perceiving a whole image from minimal lines
This is a widely reproduced visual joke attributed to the Carracci
brothers,16th-century Italian painters. They are often credited with
the invention of the comic cartoon. This simple five-line drawing is of a
Capuchin priest asleep in his pulpit. Minimal-line jokes such as this rely
upon the contemporary viewer's recognition of the shapes. Coupled
with the Rorschach blot above, this is another example of the viewer's
brain being willing to do a large amount of the work in deciphering a
picture. These examples illustrate how little is needed to convey an
image. Much can be expressed in only a few marks.Familiarity in random shapes
The Rorschach test was established by the 19th-century Swiss psychologist
Hermann Rorschach. His highly disputed and imprecise science involves
showing unprepared patients ten particular ink blots and asking them
to interpret what they see. The patient's answers are then diagnosed as a
psychological profile. The test explores our normal determination to find
things we can name among random shapes. Some artists use ink blots to
prompt the beginning of an image. We should remember that our brains
will always search for a picture—in ink
blots, clouds, smoke, etc.—and so
the artist can create much out
of an impression without
overdescribing.These clever configurations of
outlines and tonal surfaces convince
us at a glance that we are seeing a
solid three-dimensional triangle and
a three-pronged fork. Only on
closer inspection we realize that
these objects are fooling us. Yet
still we try resolve them. The
artist M. C Escher used this
phenomenon to great effect
in his many popular
drawings of puzzles
and impossible buildings.FURTHER
ILLUSIONS