Gestalt is a German word with no direct English translation. However, there are similes such as completeness, form, totality, and wholeness (1). It is a whole that can be and is perceived differently from the sum of its parts.
(My example illustrations of gestalt.)
Here are three example drawings of gestalt, both in lettering and in shape/image.
The top left image is compiled of black shapes, which when if you focus on the negative space, or if you cover the top and bottom borders of the image, makes it possible to see the word ‘GESTALT’. The image below also clearly reads ‘GESTALT’ even though it is merely compiled of straight lines. The image on the right is formed of four black shapes. But we can still see four black circles, and a square in the negative space. These are all forms of gestalt called closure — the filling of missing information (2).
These images work well as although they aren’t perfect vectors, your mind can still create the closure to complete the images and make sense of them, and you can see all ways of perceiving the images.
Example of figure-ground is gestalt
You can clearly see a black vase/candelabra and two white face profiles. You see it more as one image in front or behind the other, rather than two images slotting perfectly together. Hence the name figure-ground. Many would call it an optical illusion.
References:
1) Phelps, 2015.
2) Rutledge, 2009.
Bibliography:
PHELPS, DELORES, 2015. Gestalt and Ambiguous Figures. [Online]. [Accessed 20th March 2015]. Available from:
RUTLEDGE, ANDY, 2009. Gestalt Principles of Perception - 5: Closure. [Online]. [Accessed 20th March 2015]. Available from:
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