Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications — John Shaqi
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Perhaps the reader has often witnessed the striking illusion of some
portraits which were made of subjects looking directly at the camera or
painter. Regardless of the position of the observer the eyes of the
portrait appear to be directed toward him. In fact, as the observer moves,
the eyes in the picture follow him so relentlessly as to provoke even a
feeling of uncanniness. This fact is accounted for by the absence of a
third dimension, for a sculptured model of a head does not exhibit this
feature. Perspective plays a part in some manner, but no attempt toward
explanation will be made.
In Fig. 36 are two sketches of a face. One appears to be looking at the
observer, but the other does not. If the reader will cover the lower parts
of the two figures, leaving only the two pairs of eyes showing, both pairs
will eventually appear to be looking at the observer. Perhaps the reader
will be conscious of mental effort and the lapse of a few moments before
the eyes on the left are made to appear to be looking directly at him.
Although it is not claimed that this illusion is caused by the same
conditions as those immediately preceding, it involves attention. At
least, it is fluctuating in appearance and therefore is equivocal. It is
interesting to note the influence of the other features (below the eyes).
The perspective of these is a powerful influence in "directing" the eyes
of the sketch.
In the foregoing only definite illusions have been presented which are
universally witnessed by normal persons. There are no hallucinatory phases
in the conditions or causes. It is difficult to divide these with
definiteness from certain illusions of depth as discussed in Chapter VII.
The latter undoubtedly are sometimes entwined to some extent with
hallucinatory phases; in fact, it is doubtful if they are not always
hallucinations to some degree. Hallucinations are not of interest from the
viewpoint of this book, but illusions of depth are treated because they
are of interest. They are either hallucinations or are on the border-line
between hallucinations and those illusions which are almost universally
experienced by normal persons under similar conditions. The latter
statement does not hold for illusions of depth in which objects may be
seen alternately near and far, large and small, etc., although they are
not necessarily pure hallucinations as distinguished from the types of
illusions regarding which there is general perceptual agreement.
[Illustration: Fig. 36.--Illustrating certain influences upon the apparent
direction of vision. By covering all but the eyes the latter appear to be
drawn alike in both sketches.]
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