What's an Optical Puzzle?
There are many types of optical
puzzles. One type is like in the picture above. It posses an
Escher-like logic. The logic at the same time is right for the eye but
wrong for the laws that we inherently know. Other optical illusions may
have forms within a larger image. Such as,
Do you see the baby - the fetus?
In a more general sense, all
paintings are optical puzzles. From one perspective the viewer is present
with the unique activity of figuring out the image. Now, sometimes it is
very obvious for the viewer, as when looking at still-life paintings or
portraits. Other times it may be challenging for a viewer to figure out
the subject or subjects. And still sometimes the subject itself may be
vague. In all these cases the viewer, and the artist, is presented with an
optical puzzle - an image that requires some degree of figuring out.
So optical puzzles can be many
things. But it appears they always deal with an image & figuring
out.
Is an an image an optical puzzle
if the viewer sees it within his mind's eye only and not through his
eyes?
It depends on how you define
optical. American Heritage dictionary defines optical as "of or
pertaining to sight: optical illusion." And Optic is defined
as "Of or pertaining to the eye or to vision."
If I allow the words
"sight" and "vision" to include any image, whether seen by
the mind or eye, then yes mental images, such as dreams, are, indeed, optical
puzzles.
Whether optical puzzles are from
the mind, eye or both, life is full of them! Look around. Images are
everywhere and we are constantly figuring them out; there, you just did it!
Optical
Puzzles
Puzzles
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