Two identical curved bands aligned so that one seems longer.
Look closely. Let the image settle.
Size & geometry / 1889 / 1892

Jastrow curves

Identical curved pieces seem to have different sizes.

TRY THIS

Compare the two curved bands. Their placement puts the long edge of one next to the short edge of the other. Align the shapes mentally or trace them to check.

FOLLOW THE SOURCES

History, evidence & image credit

THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Fibonacci.

Original file & attribution · CC BY-SA 3.0

Original image downloaded from Wikimedia Commons; the downloaded file is unchanged. Gallery previews may be resized or converted to WebP; animated previews show the first frame.

Download image

Frequently asked questions

What is Jastrow curves?

Identical curved pieces seem to have different sizes.

What should I look for in Jastrow curves?

Compare the two curved bands. Their placement puts the long edge of one next to the short edge of the other. Align the shapes mentally or trace them to check.

What explains Jastrow curves?

The arrangement encourages comparisons between unequal neighboring edges rather than corresponding parts of the identical shapes. That describes an important influence, but the broader perceptual mechanism is still debated.

Two identical curved bands aligned so that one seems longer.

Jastrow curves