French 19th Century Reversal Image, Which is My Portrait? organic Rosenquist

Rosenquist

Each panel measures 17 1/2" x 15 1/4"

though I'd probably be inclined just to display it somewhere to be admired

I purchased it from the estate sale of an artist

8" long x 2 3/4" deep x 1 3/8" tall

French 19th Century Reversal Image, Which is My Portrait? organic RosenquistWhat 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