Optical illusions play with perception by presenting images that invite more than one reading. They feel satisfying to solve because the eye is nudged into seeing what is not obvious at first, and the mind must refocus to decode it. Different people interpret illusions in different ways since the brain leans on past experience and pattern recognition. That is the trick at work here.

The viral image and how to look

The image created by artist Paul Agule first spread widely on social media. At first glance it looks ordinary, yet it conceals a word within the features of a face. Study the nose, eyes, lips and chin. Notice how the lines and contours meet. A change of viewpoint can help. Tilt your head to the right or rotate the picture slightly and the design resolves more clearly.

The reveal

The hidden word is Liar. When viewed at an angle to the right, the nose, lips and chin align to form the letters. Only a small share of viewers spot it unaided, so if you saw it, your attention to detail paid off.