throughmirrorA different way of seeing
Pinna’s Intertwining Circles — Concentric circles seem to intertwine.
Look closely. Let the image settle.
Size & geometry / 2002

Pinna’s Intertwining Circles

Concentric circles seem to intertwine.

TRY THIS

Trace one ring slowly all the way around. Compare its path with the impression of interlacing.

FOLLOW THE SOURCES

History, evidence & image credit

THE IMAGE IN THIS ARCHIVE

Bernhard Wiedemann

Original file & attribution · CC BY-SA 4.0

This locally stored image is a Wikimedia Commons rendition (resized or rendered from the source file). The full original is linked from the source record. Gallery previews may be resized or converted to WebP; animated previews show the first frame.

Download image

Frequently asked questions

What is Pinna’s Intertwining Circles?

Concentric circles seem to intertwine.

What should I look for in Pinna’s Intertwining Circles?

Trace one ring slowly all the way around. Compare its path with the impression of interlacing.

What explains Pinna’s Intertwining Circles?

The local orientation and contrast of the elements make the circular paths appear to lean and cross. Their centers actually coincide.

Another way to see it

Explore this category
Offset rows of alternating black and white tiles separated by straight gray lines.

Café wall

Richard Gregory & Priscilla Heard; observed by Steve Simpson

Perfectly parallel mortar lines seem to slope.

Two equal line segments ending in oppositely oriented arrow fins.

Müller–Lyer

Franz Carl Müller-Lyer

Matching line lengths, mismatched appearances.

Two equal center circles, one surrounded by larger circles and one by smaller circles.

Ebbinghaus circles

Traditionally Hermann Ebbinghaus; popularized by E. B. Titchener

The neighbors change the size of the circle you see.

Pinna’s Intertwining Circles — Concentric circles seem to intertwine.

Pinna’s Intertwining Circles