In the early 20th century, psychologist Edgar Rubin developed the figure-ground vase (also known as Rubin’s vase).  This ambiguous figure can be interpreted as either a vase or two faces looking at each other.   Metal Portraits, a company based in Suwanee, Georgia, has taken the figure-ground vase concept to an entirely new level by creating […]

This figure, created by Peter Ulric Tse,  may be interpreted as a series of ‘pyramids’ on the ground plane (pointing upwards )or as the ‘teeth’ of a saw that face the viewer and lie flush with the ground plane.  Can you see both interpretations?  Which one did you see first?

Looking back through the archives, I was surprised that something from the late Japanese artist Shigeo Fukuda had not been featured on An Optical Illusion yet.  During his lifetime, Fukuda produced well over a thousand poster designs (among other artistic endeavors that I am sure we will explore at a later time).  Many of his […]

I love the work of Rob Gonsalves.  Each of his paintings presents a subtle yet magical transformation.  When the viewer finally realizes what is going on, he (or she) cannot help but be impressed.  His painting below, titled “The Phenomenon of Floating” presents a woman floating on her back and looking at the heavens in […]

Below is an ambiguous picture of the face of Harry Houdini.  Is he facing you or are you looking at a profile shot of him staring to the right?  Try covering up the right side of the image with your hand or a sheet of paper and he will seem to be looking directly at […]

In the late 19th and  early 20th centuries, it was a common practice for cigarette companies to include cards with their products to help advertise their brand.  Ogden’s Cigarettes, a branch of the Imperial Tobacco Co. (of Great Britain & Ireland) Ltd, released a series of 25 optical illusion cards in the 1920s.  Number 13 […]

A family opens their front door on Christmas morning only to be frightened by what they see.  But should they be?  What is so scary about this Santa Claus illustration by Russian cartoonist Valentine Dubinin?