<h1>Pareidolia</h1>

<blockquote>
  <p>Pareidolia is the tendency to interpret a vague stimulus as something known to the observer, such as seeing shapes in clouds, seeing faces in inanimate objects or abstract patterns, or hearing hidden messages in music.
  <p><sup>source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wikipedia</a></sup></p>
</blockquote>

<p>There are many examples on the internet beyond Arcimboldo, just look for <em>Pareidolia in art</em>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/h6BuS.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h6BuS.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><sub><em>Women Forming A Skull By Salvador Dali</em></sub></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-20T20:08:38.340Z
I don't think this is Pareidolia as there is nothing vague about what Arcimboldo is doing. It is not interpretive or hidden. He is purposely constructing, in a sculptural manner (he was a Mannerist after all), the figures in the paintings using inanimate objects. His work is considered unique, and the closest thing I found to a name for them is "double-meaning" paintings.
rebusB
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-09T15:26:36.740Z
2019-08-14T14:54:23.630Z
2019-08-14T14:54:23.630Z
Danielillo
<p>I was wondering if there exists a term that describes the practice of using objects to depict other objects.</p>

<p>To give an example: </p>

<p>In the painting "The Librarian", Arcimboldo uses books to depict a person.
So the artist uses objects (books) to depict something entirely different (a person).</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JBozZ.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JBozZ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-09T18:48:31.637Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about art historical terminology. Terminology questions are fine if they can clarify a creative process, but this seems to have nothing to do with creating things.
Joachim
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-13T15:10:13.350Z
@WebHead You're right. I think that my decision was informed by both Arcimboldo's painting and the lack of any indication of artistic usage or usefulness. Vote retracted. (Also, it's Dwight).
Joachim
<terminology>
Using objects to depict other objects
cmplx96
# Using objects to depict other objects

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-08-09)

I was wondering if there exists a term that describes the practice of using objects to depict other objects.

To give an example:

In the painting "The Librarian", Arcimboldo uses books to depict a person.
So the artist uses objects (books) to depict something entirely different (a person).

Thanks!

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JBozZ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/JBozZ.jpg)

**Tags:** terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it is about art historical terminology. Terminology questions are fine if they can clarify a creative process, but this seems to have nothing to do with creating things.  
> **username_1**: @WebHead You're right. I think that my decision was informed by both Arcimboldo's painting and the lack of any indication of artistic usage or usefulness. Vote retracted. (Also, it's Dwight).  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-08-09. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

# Pareidolia

> Pareidolia is the tendency to interpret a vague stimulus as something known to the observer, such as seeing shapes in clouds, seeing faces in inanimate objects or abstract patterns, or hearing hidden messages in music.
>
> source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia)

There are many examples on the internet beyond Arcimboldo, just look for *Pareidolia in art*.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/h6BuS.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/h6BuS.jpg)

*Women Forming A Skull By Salvador Dali*

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I don't think this is Pareidolia as there is nothing vague about what Arcimboldo is doing. It is not interpretive or hidden. He is purposely constructing, in a sculptural manner (he was a Mannerist after all), the figures in the paintings using inanimate objects. His work is considered unique, and the closest thing I found to a name for them is "double-meaning" paintings.  

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