Ambiguity Collection

Hollow-face illusion, artwork
Hollow-face illusion, computer artwork. This is an optical illusion where the perception of a concave (hollow) mask of a face appears as a normal convex (protruding) face

Hollow-face illusion, artwork
Hollow-face illusion, computer artwork. This is an optical illusion where the perception of a concave (hollow) mask of a face appears as a normal convex (protruding) face

Goblet illusion. This image is simultaneously a drawing of a goblet and two faces. When there are two competing interpretations of an ambiguous image the brain will often switch between them

Ouchi illusion. The central circular area of perpendicularly orientated bars appears to move and float compared to the surrounding pattern

Penrose stairs, artwork
Penrose stairs, computer artwork. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose and used by M C Escher in his illustration Ascending and Descending

Penrose stairs, artwork
Penrose stairs. Computer artwork of Einstein characters climbing a set of Penrose stairs

Impossible triangle, artwork
Impossible triangle, computer artwork. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose. Impossible figures are objects that can be drawn but not created

Wundt illusion. This illusion was created by the psychologist Willhelm Wundt in the 19th century. It is the exact opposite of the Hering illusion

Ponzos illusion. The vertical red line to the left of the image appears to be smaller than the one to the right

Abstract connected network of colorful balls and lines

Falbalas et Fanfreluches, Almanac for 1924
DGA601578 Falbalas et Fanfreluches, Almanac for 1924, The Difficult Confession (L'Aveau Difficile) by Barbier, Georges (1882-1932); (add.info.: Fashion, France)

Portrait of a Man, c.1520-24 (oil on canvas)
3278255 Portrait of a Man, c.1520-24 (oil on canvas) by Moroni, Giovanni Battista (c.1525-79); 90.2x63.5 cm; Worcester Art Museum, Massachusetts, USA; © Worcester Art Museum

Interior, 1924 (oil on canvas)
2653948 Interior, 1924 (oil on canvas) by John, Gwen (1876-1939); Manchester Art Gallery, UK; © Manchester Art Gallery

The Archer, c. 1930-42 (oil on canvas)
908516 The Archer, c.1930-42 (oil on canvas) by Nash, Paul (1889-1946); 71x91.5 cm; Southampton City Art Gallery, Hampshire, UK; Southampton City Art Gallery

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715579 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715576 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715571 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

A Foregathering of Witches, 4 (w / c with wash & ink over graphite on paper)
FIT450370 A Foregathering of Witches, 4 (w/c with wash & ink over graphite on paper) by Romney, George (1734-1802); 40.4x54.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715578 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715569 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715582 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715570 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715581 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715573 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715566 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

A Foregathering of Witches (w / c with wash over graphite on paper)
FIT450369 A Foregathering of Witches (w/c with wash over graphite on paper) by Romney, George (1734-1802); 38.6x39 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge, UK; eFitzwilliam Museum; English

A Foregathering of Witches, 3 (w / c with wash & ink over graphite on paper)
FIT450371 A Foregathering of Witches, 3 (w/c with wash & ink over graphite on paper) by Romney, George (1734-1802); 38.5x54.8 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

An allegory of innocence and guile (oil on canvas)
BWM155774 An allegory of innocence and guile (oil on canvas) by Heemskerck, Maerten van (1498-1574); The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK; eBowes Museum; Dutch, out of copyright

Billet-doux, 1897 (pencil & w / c on paper)
3050867 Billet-doux, 1897 (pencil & w/c on paper) by Browne, Tom (1872-1910); 27x34.5 cm; Private Collection; English, out of copyright

Ida Hammershoi sitting on a sofa (oil on canvas)
CH443722 Ida Hammershoi sitting on a sofa (oil on canvas) by Hammershoi, Vilhelm (1864-1916); 31x28 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Danish, out of copyright

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715567 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715574 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715572 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w / c on paper)
715568 Illustration from Europe: a Prophecy, Lambeth, 1794 (ink & w/c on paper) by Blake, William (1757-1827); 37.5x27 cm; Glasgow University Library

Ehrenstein illusion, square in circles
Ehrensteins illusion - a square in concentric circles. This is one of a number of illusions studied by Walter Ehrenstein

Muller-Lyer illusion. The two lines with arrows at each end appear to be different lengths on the left. In fact they are the same length

Jastrow illusion. The bottom shape appears to be larger than the top shape. They are actually identical

Impossible shape, computer artwork

Scintillating grid illusion. This illusion, based on the Hermann grid, was created in 1994

Square illusion - subdivision leads to apparent enlargement. There are three squares of identical area

Illusory contours forming circles. This illusion demonstrates the false perception of areas of increased brightness. Lines are apparently joined to bright circles. In fact no such circles exist

Freemish crate. This representation of an impossible cube is based upon the standard 2- dimensional depiction of a cube

Circle in a square illusion. The two red circles in the image are the same size. However, the one inside a blue square looks larger than the one enclosing a blue square

Hering illusion. This illusion was created by the physiologist Edward Hering in the 19th century

Framing colour illusion
Framing colours illusion. Black borders around colours enhance their brightness and prevent clashing. The colours in the pattern on the left appear to be brighter and bolder than those on the right

Three arc illusion. The three arcs shown give the impression of belonging to circles of increasing radius when viewed from top to bottom. They actually come from circles of the same radius

Square illusion - orientation changes perception of size. The two squares are identical. However, the one on the left appears larger because it has been rotated through 45 degrees

Kanizsa triangle. This image appears to depict a solid triangle overlaying another triangle. This triangle looks brighter than the background. In fact there is no triangle

Delboeuf illusion. An illusion created by the Belgian philosopher Franz Joseph Delboeuf. The two red circles on the left have the same diameter, as do the two red circles on the right

Computer artwork of an impossible triangle
Impossible triangle. Abstract computer artwork of a triangle, made from 3 sections of tower block, which would be impossible to construct because it breaks the laws of artistic perspective

Angle illusion. The red angle marked on the left appears to be larger than the red angle on the right. In fact they are the same size

Square illusion - vertical lines appear longer
Square illusion. The shape on the right hand side is a square whilst the one on the left, which is slightly shorter, is not. However many people believe it to be the other way round

Orbison illusion. Both the rectangle surrounding the pattern and the perfect square within the pattern appear to be distorted

Irradiation illusion. The white square against a black background on the left appears to be larger than the black square against a white background on the right. They are actually the same size

Cafe wall illusion. This illusion is so named because it was first noticed on a tiled wall in a Bristol cafe

Simultaneous contrast example. The green squares look brighter on the left, where they are in yellow bands, compared to the right, where they are in blue bands

Hermann-Hering illusion
Hermann grid illusion. The intersections of the white horizontal and vertical lines in this image appear to be grey. But when looked at directly they are clearly white

Penrose stairway. This is an impossible figure created by the physicist Roger Penrose and used by M C Escher in his illustration " Ascending and Descending"

Ehrenstein illusion - illusory contours forming circles. Created in 1954 by the psychologist Walter Ehrenstein, this illusion demonstrates the false perception of areas of increased brightness

Impossible figure, artwork
Impossible figure. Computer artwork of a mug on a piece of paper, both with impossible figures drawn on them. Impossible figures are objects that can be drawn but not created

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EDITORS COMMENTS

"Unveiling the Enigmatic: Exploring Ambiguity through Illusions and Artwork" Step into a world where reality blurs, and perception becomes a puzzle. Delve into the captivating realm of ambiguity, where illusions and artwork intertwine to challenge our senses. The Hollow-face illusion beckons us with its deceptive charm. A seemingly concave face that defies logic, inviting us to question what we truly see. And within an artwork's strokes lies another hollow-faced enigma, teasing our minds with hidden dimensions. Behold the Goblet illusion, an optical marvel that oscillates between two distinct images. Is it two faces or one chalice? The answer eludes us as ambiguity dances before our eyes. Venture further into the depths of perplexity with Penrose stairs depicted in mesmerizing artwork. These never-ending steps defy gravity and reason alike, leaving us trapped in a loop of uncertainty. The Ouchi illusion toys with our perception of size and depth. Are those circles expanding or contracting? Our mind struggles to grasp their true nature amidst this visual conundrum. Witness the Impossible triangle emerge from artistic mastery—a shape both plausible yet impossible simultaneously. Its paradoxical existence challenges our understanding of spatial relationships. Once again, Penrose stairs grace an artist's canvas—each step leading nowhere but everywhere at once—an eternal cycle confounding even the most astute observer. Enter Wundt illusion's domain—a swirling vortex distorting lines before our very eyes. As they converge towards infinity or diverge towards nothingness, certainty fades away like distant echoes. Ponzo's illusion deceives by manipulating perspective; parallel lines converging make objects appear larger or smaller than they truly are—the truth obscured by clever trickery. And there it is again—the Ponzos' illusion resurfaces—railroad tracks stretching infinitely apart while remaining parallel—an optical riddle challenging rational thought once more. Returning full circle, the Hollow-face illusion reappears within an artwork's embrace.