French 19th Century Reversal Image, Which is My Portrait? organic Or just cross your eyes

Or just cross your eyes

I purchased it from the estate sale of an artist

I find it pretty transporting

I'd love to see these put to good use

There is no inset on the back

French 19th Century Reversal Image, Which is My Portrait? organic Or just cross your eyesWhat a curiosity! I was pretty excited to find this little antique French reversal drawing, which I believe dates to the 1840s or so, when optical illusions because a big thing in France (check out the phnakisticopes published by Joseph Plateau) and reversal portraits were circulated. (I'm including one by Daumier in the photos) This one has a very contemporary feel to me, perhaps in part because the human face keeps reminding me of the late great