Oldest Optical Illusion: The Duck or Rabbit

The duck or rabbit is the oldest optical illusion, dating back to 1899.

The duck-rabbit drawing was first used by American psychologist Joseph Jastrow to make the point that perception is not only what one sees but also a mental activity.

Mr Jastrow’s research was based on how quickly one can see the second animal and how fast participants could change their perception of the drawing to switch between the two animals.

The faster you can do this this, the quicker your brain works and the more creative you are, the research suggested.

So which animal did you see first, the duck or the rabbit?