Ambiguous images

Ambiguous images or reversible figures were extremely popular during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Many of them were created anonymously.

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Isis Translations

a black and white drawing of a girl with a hat on her head

Anonymous, "Young Woman/Old Woman," German postcard, 1880

a painting of a man sitting at a table with an eyeball in his mouth

"You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.”

two people are facing each other in the same head silhouetted against a black and white background

Edgar Rubin, "Hidden Faces and Goblet," 1915

a drawing of a skeleton with two people on it's face, and one is holding

Anonymous, "L'Amour de Pierrot," French postcard, 1905

a black and white drawing of a woman bending over

Edwund Boring, "You See My Wife, and Mother-in-Law," also known as the "Boring Figure," 1941

two women sitting at a table in front of a crystal ball

Charles E. Gilbert, "All is Vanity," ca. 1920

a painting of pink flowers and two butterflies on a light colored background, with green stems in the foreground

Ladies face in flower plant with butterfly

a woman's face with a red bow on her head is cut out of paper

Two Novels In One Image

Two Novels In One Image A brilliant ad campaign for Colsubsidio Book Exchange by advertising agency Lowe/SSP3 that illustrates two different stories within a single image. “Come with one story; leave with another.”

a painting of two people kissing in front of a skull

Anonymous, "La vie et la mort," "Leben und Tod"

Anonymous, "Hidden Faces and Goblet," American puzzle card, 1880