Gestalt principle of FIGURE-GROUND

9/11/2016

The eye differentiates an object form its surrounding area. A form, silhouette, or shape is naturally perceived as figure(object), while the surrounding area is perceived as ground (background).

BASIC FIGURE-GROUND: All of the text on this page is Figure and the background white is Ground.

Balancing figure and ground can make the perceived image more clear. Using unusual figure/ground relationships can add interest and subtlety to an image.
-paraphrased from http://graphicdesign.spokanefalls.edu/tutorials/process/gestaltprinciples/gestaltprinc.htm

The tree is is the Figure in this photograph, while the sky is the Ground.

http://www.unesco.org/new/fileaadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ERI/images/mab2014_ecuador_03.jpg

Consider what is Figure and what is Ground in this typographic layout.

https://maxboam.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/vog-sp1111-002.jpg

AMBIGUOUS FIGURE-GROUND:
"Figure ground ambiguity is the visual illusion with two alternate viewpoints. This is similar to figure ground reversal, but the alternate image creates a totally different perception. In this version of figure ground, a pair of objects share a similar edge. This illusion is created by the inversion of figure and ground. A well-renowned figure example is Rubin’s Vase, developed by psychologist Edgar Rubin. In this image the black positive space forms two faces that appear to be ready to kiss, and the inverse negative space forms a vase. Visually the concentration on either the white or the black makes the illusion alternate between the vase and the faces." - http://605.wikispaces.com/Figure+Ground

http://www.daylilyart.com/DESIGN/B_shape/shape1/figure_ground.jpg

The photo below plays with ambiguous Figure-Ground, showing both a human skull and/or 2 astronauts in front of a planet.

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/db/ec/f9/dbecf97e33697d0657d82ccf02957870.jpg

STUDENTS:
ONE SAMPLE OF GESTALT FIGURE-GROUND

Find a sample that illustrates either normal Figure-Ground or ambiguous Figure-Ground. Use a photograph, painting, logo, or layout. Do not use one of the simple black diagrams that usually come up for Gestalt - push yourself further than this.

9 Comments

Nichole Johns link

9/12/2016 12:13:24 pm

This figure can be considered ambiguous figure-ground. At one point you can see a butterfly in the center. On the other hand, you can see two women's faces. As it says in the notes "this is created by inversion of the figure and ground.

Emma Hidy link

9/13/2016 11:19:08 am

This is an ambiguous figure showing both Batman and Penguin. It is ambiguous because the viewer can see more than one figure. Penguin is so disguised that the picture has to be flipped upside down for him to be seen but it is still capable of seeing a figure other than Batman.

Brittney Clayton link

9/16/2016 04:17:02 pm

The photo shows a landscape of a diagonal slope, possibly on a mountain, with a tree and a figure with a small lit fire. But as an example of figure ground, you can also see a womans face in the picture. The tall figure is her eye, and the ground and tree themselves are the outline of her face and hair.

Khansa Alodhaib link

9/17/2016 11:37:05 pm

The picture shows the similarity of colors, shapes and sizes. As you can see children sitting in a group at the same line wearing the same colors of hats and the same size too. They're also wearing the same color of clothes and slippers.

Darian Stewart link

9/19/2016 12:38:11 pm

This is an example of figure ground for the simple fact that the image is brought together by an object (chess piece) and the its surrounding area creating a man standing. The shape of the chess piece placed in the right spot creates the the surrounding are to be perceived as the ground.

mary bouchard link

11/21/2016 03:52:48 pm

This image is a clever example of ambiguous figure ground because it has 2 different perspectives. The viewer either sees a wine bottle or a man climbing a mountain. In one viewpoint the multi-colored negative space forms a wine bottle surrounded by a gray ground. But the gray positive space also forms a man climbing a mountain, making the multi-colored negative the ground, which can then be perceived as the sky and no longer as a wine bottle.

Haydin Hall link

11/28/2016 08:46:07 pm

In this photograph you can see two images. One of the images is a man facing forward and the other is a man in profile. It is an illusion because you can either see the profile picture first or the forward view first. This explains Ambiguous figure ground of Gestalt's theory.

Muneyoshi Sudo link

12/4/2016 11:16:01 am

A good example of gestalt figure-ground is here. If you focus on looking at the positive space, it appears to be a tree with three flying birds. However, you will next see a woman face with eye, eyebrow, mouth and nose when focusing on negative space, the background.

Muneyoshi Sudo

12/4/2016 12:23:00 pm

The image link doesn't seem working properly. I will paste here:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/48/c3/5f/48c35f44cdd1c26a21926a06572ed284.jpg

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