I'm quite curious about how you perceive this picture

Post Reply New Topic

Because my first impression was quite different to a second impression later. For this I added a poll.
viewtopic.php?t=377520

What’s the point of this poll?

I just thought that ASD people and NTs but also man and women may perceive this picture quite differently.
I think it depends totally on how it is emotionally affecting you. For this I was totally curious about this and added the poll.

Last edited by quite an extreme on 21 Jun 2019, 11:20 am, edited 2 times in total.

It's, loosely, a sort of "Rorschach" test. A psychological test used in a similar manner to the inkblot test.

They have these sorts of pictures in ASD assessments.

Right. It's like the testtables they use for detecting color blindness but it just for testing how empathetical or as the opposite blind for the emotions of other people you are. You won't find this anywhere but here on WP because I just had the idea once I saw this picture in the Wikipedia today. It's great for this. Until now all responses do fit my expectations. People who have a very low level of empathy (please don't confuse this with compassion) can't really tell and for this they will mostly choose this option. But don't take it to seriously please because it's just guessing and in the end every option could be right. But if there are to few NTs who answer this then I'll provide a list of what I would expect.

The expression whatever it's supposed to be is too subtle for me to make anything of it.

... This exactly. And it can change again. And again. And again.

The little girl on our right is actually easy to read. She is confiding something personal.

The bigger girl on the left is clearly engaged, and its not in a casual "fun" way.

But her expression is a bit off kilter and ambiguous. Kind of angry looking.

I relied on their hands to read their emotion. If I cropped their hands out of the picture, I can easily see the blonde child having said something important, and the brunette is listening, considering or thinking. When I do see their hands, the story changes because the blonde's hand posture indicates she is serious, in a business-like clasp. This to me indicates she is the listener. In contrast the brunette's hands are cupped almost in a stimming fashion as if she is shy or nervous. Likewise she may have something in her hands that she is fiddling with. This indicates to me that she is perhaps about to speak, and that she feels self-conscious, rather than being the listener.

I think their hands are very important.

They are, evidently, very close friends.

Maybe a little too mature for their age.

I'm going to give them names so I don't have to keep calling them the one on the left/right, or the blonde/brunette one.

Blonde one= Annabelle

Brunette one= Sarah

Sarah seems to be in thought, maybe a little sad. I get the impression that she's looking for the right words to say to the other girl. Could be a sensitive topic? She seems to be reflecting on something.

Whereas Annabelle seems to be paying attention (ish?) I can't fully tell if she's focusing on the background or the girl. Maybe a bit of both. Perhaps this topic is about someone who's far enough to not hear their conversation, but close enough for Annabelle to see. Or she's at least thinking about the third mystery person.

Hmm, well there's also the possibility that Sarah feels a bit awkward, and just sat down to talk to her friend/ someone she wants to be friends with but doesn't quite know what to say. Could there be some fear involved? Is Annabelle popular? Maybe Sarah feels intimidated. Is Annabelle annoyed? Feeling patient? Uh...

Edit: Well, people are saying they are clearly friends so I'm not so sure about some of my readings now.

These are some subtle expressions.

Last edited by Lost_dragon on 21 Jun 2019, 5:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I don't think they are necessarily friends, but one can assume because of their proximity.

The brunette's feet are so beautifully painted.

Who is the artist? I'm too tired to scroll back and check.

William-Adolphe Bouguereau.

The painting is called Les noisettes (the nut gatherers) and it dates back to 1882.

Is this some type of improvised projective test?

The interpretation is subjective but the girl on the left is watching the other girl waiting for some type of response whether verbal or non-verbal?

I would't read too much into individual subjective interpretation though

Oh! so the girls are taking a break in the sunshine after gathering tree nuts?

The problem is I can't even lip read.. But how does one lip read a painting?