Perception. Perceiving Space in Pictures

Throughout history, humans have used pictures to convey information about the three-dimensional layout of the environment and the volumetric structure of objects. There is little doubt that this form ofvisual communication can be use- ful practically (e.g. in technical drawings or maps) as well as aesthetically pleasing (e.g. in artistic paintings, prints, or photographs). Yet, pictures are two-dimensional, dimensionally limited, and constrained in intensity and chromaticity. By construc- tion, visual information in pictures undersamples visual information available in the three-dimensional environment. This being the case, how can we perceive space in pictures? In this chapter, I propose a conceptual scheme for understanding visual information about space. The scheme is based on the concept of ambient optic array developed by J. J. Gibson. and on the key idea that information is available in space- time for an embodied moving observer. I then show how this scheme can be used to identify key differences between spatial perception in the actual environment and spa- tial perception in pictures. These differences provide useful insights into the spatial understanding of pictures, reveal the fundamental role of viewpoints in interpreting spatial ambiguity, and identify overlooked factors affecting aesthetic experience in perspective and art.