The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-08-27
How to Look at Pictures.

Most people understand the rrineii,le
Of tbs stere0soope. They know that
| when nature is looked at with both
! eyes; each eye sees somewhat differ
! ent view-though from the way in which
these views are combined the difference
| is not generally rocOgnized-and that
ID order to give the true appearance of
| Objects receding and standing apart
from each other las viewed with both
eyes,, two different pictures must be
taken, which must likewise be com
blned by means of lenses, as is done in
the stereoseope and when this is prop
erly managed, the pictures no longer
look like fiat surfaces, but like the
things themselves they are intended TO
represent, the objects all appearing to
be in actual bona Jde relief. That a
great deal more is seen with two ewes
than with one (When looking at things
around) can easily be shown by simply
holding up finger at a spans length
from the face, and at the same time
looking at a small object behind it
(snch as a thimble) at q distance of
yard or two on 1t viii be found i'm
possible to mako the finger hide the
thimble with both eyes open. but If
one eye be shut, the finger can at once
be made to conceal the thimble from the
sight. Again, should a single painting
such as that of a statue in a niche in the
wall, may be SO we'll executed that at a
considerable distance it is almost impos-
slble to decide whether it is a statue or
only representation of one-and peo.
pie have been deceived by such mural
paintings when looking, for instance,
from the boxes of a theatre to the walls
opposite, under the influence of artifi-
clal hght-still, there are no means at
present known, or likely to be known.
by which single drawing, (of landscape,
scenery, shipping, buildings. and so
forth), whatever its truthfulness or ex-
cellence, can be made to represent at a
distance, say of from two to five feet,
what would be seen with both eyes when |
looking upon the shipping, buildings, !
etc.. or what would be seen when two |
stereoscopic pictures are combine
though single drawing can, and often |
does, represent very exactly the scene |
presented TO one eye by nature.
The conclusion to be drawn from this |
IS that the proper mode of looking at a |
drawing or picture is to do so with one
eye only, for if looked at with both
eyes, you can Immediately detect that
it Is a mere picture on fiat surface (be-
cause, as before stated, there must then
be two pictures to make a perfect de-
'eption), whereas. if only one eye is
used, and the head is held perfectly
still, then (as the mind is under precisely
he same circumstances as it would |
De if the real objects themselves were
being looked at with one eye, and hav-
ng no means of detecting any differ
nee between the representation and
he real things representedl at a short
distance a drawing, after few seconds,
lOes almost seem to be stereoscopic, or
10 longer appears as a mere fiat surface;
nd this is the point to which we wish
o draw attention. The same reasoning
7ill of course apply to photographs and
.Ood sized engravings, especially to {
hose of buildings (such as the Forem
{ Rome), cloisters, and interiors, and
Jews of bare trees. Whether the fore
DING explanation accounts for the phe-
Omenon or not, there can be no doubt !
hat the pleasure of quietly studying
Ood drawings viii be greatly enhanced
y looking at them with one eye only. |