As interesting as optical illusions are, it can really test your sensation and perception. Often what you see may not match what it really is and that's what makes optical illusions so exciting!
Having said that, this classic optical illusion will blow your mind and leave you stumped. Find out why...
"My Wife and My Mother in Law"
My Wife and My Mother-in-Law is one of the most famous optical illusions in history. The image was originally created by an anonymous illustrator from Germany, and was made into a postcard in 1888. However, an American cartoonist William Ely Hill published it in Puck, an American humour magazine, in 1915 and ever since, this ambiguous image has left everyone puzzled.
What do you see?
The illustraion depicts a young woman turning away or an older woman, who are supposedly the artist's wife and mother-in-law, respectively.
So what do you see?
Is it the younger woman or the older woman?
In case you are struggling to find any one of the women, scroll down for the hint.
Here's a hint
The younger woman or the wife's choker is the older woman’s mouth, and the older woman’s chin is the younger woman’s chest.
Did you spot them now?
What has study revealed about this optical illusion
An Australian study has found that younger people see the younger woman first and older people see the older woman first.
The study involved 393 people – 242 males and 141 females ranging between 18 and 68 years old, the median age being 32.
The study authors from Flinders University showed the sketch to the participants and found that participants saw the woman who was closer to their own age, with the majority seeing the younger woman.
The study concluded: “It is possible that participants simply estimate an age for the illusion that is closer to their own. This could be tested by simply picking a middle-aged face and asking participants to estimate the age of the face.”
