Ambiguous Collection (page 3)

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. It exploits the brains understanding of perspective to fool it into thinking that the two horizontal

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

Poggendorff illusion. The two red lines crossing the blue bar are colinear. Many people see them as being offset. There are still no satisfactory explanations as to why this should be the case

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

Impossible trident. This uses the fact that a rectangular bar can be represented in 2 dimensions by 3 lines, whereas a cylinder requires 2. So we have 3 cylinders blending into 2 rectangular bars

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. The pattern in the image appears to show sloping grey lines between the black

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

Imaginary Ufo (Buhler)
This painting captures the mysteriously ambiguous quality of the UFOs - part nuts-and- bolts spacecraft, part dreamlike shapes which echo subconscious archetypes

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Step into the world of ambiguity, where reality blurs and perception deceives. From the mesmerizing Hollow-face illusion artwork to the mind-boggling Penrose stairs, prepare to question everything you see. The enigmatic Goblet illusion challenges your senses as it flips between two interpretations effortlessly. As you delve deeper, encounter the perplexing Ouchi illusion that distorts shapes and sizes with its puzzling design. Behold the Impossible triangle artwork, a paradoxical masterpiece that defies logic and leaves you in awe of its impossibility. Explore further into the realm of optical illusions with William Lenthall's captivating creations, including his intriguing Ponzos illusion that plays tricks on depth perception. But wait. There's more to unravel within this labyrinth of uncertainty. Return to the Hollow-face illusion artwork, where faces appear convex despite being concave—an artistic marvel that confounds even the keenest observers. Brace yourself for another encounter with Penrose stairs' never-ending ascent or descent—a visual riddle challenging our understanding of space and perspective. As if that wasn't enough confusion for one journey, experience Wundt illusion's deceptive lines bending before your eyes—making straight seem crooked and vice versa. Finally, immerse yourself in yet another dose of Ponzos illusion artistry—the clever manipulation of size and distance creating an optical trickery like no other. In this world filled with ambiguous hints and beguiling artworks, be prepared to question what is real and what is merely an illusory facade crafted by masterful minds.