Young Or Old Woman: Optical Illusion

A young lady or an old woman is a famous ambiguous optical illusion in which the brain switches between seeing an old woman and a young lady.

This optical illusion is also known as:

• My wife and my mother-in-law
• Young girl and old woman

William Ely Hill: My Wife And My Mother-in-law

The mother-in-law is looking towards the left, with her chin to her chest. And, the wife is looking away from the viewer. The nose of the mother-in-law forms the chin of the wife.

Edwin Boring: Young Girl And Mother-in-law

It is also known as boring figure.

This picture is the most famous as it was popularized By Edwin Boring to the psychological circles in the 1930s.

Gerald Fisher: Mother, Father And Daughter

(A family version)

FATHER

• Father is sharing the hat with mother and daughter.
• Father’s eye is daughter’s ear.
• Father’s nose is daughter and mother’s hair.
• Father is looking towards the right.

MOTHER

• Mother is sharing the hat with father and daughter.
• Mother’s scarf is father’s mustache.
• Mother is looking towards the left.

DAUGHTER

• Daughter is sharing the hat with father and mother.
• Daughter’s chin is mother’s nose.
• Daughter is looking back on the left side.

Jack Botwinick: Husband And Father-in-law

(A male version)

The old man is looking to the right with his chin to his chest and a young man is looking away from you over right shoulder. The nose of the old man forms the chin of the young man.

Origin Of Young Girl And Old Woman Optical Illusion

The oldest known image depicting the young lady and old woman are believed to be from an anonymous German postcard that is dated 1888.

This image has been used excessively in advertisements during that era.

Here are trading cards that have used the young lady or old woman in advertisements…

Hidden Picture Puzzle: Young Or Old Woman?

In France, the image was used as hidden picture puzzle.

In Spain, the image was used as puzzle in postcards

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