This is not a (Rorschach) Test

The Rorschach test has become a common theme in art, design, and pop culture: from the cover of Jay-Z’s “Decoded” to Andy Warhol’s art, it’s taken on a life of its own. We were excited to get a copy of this book – The Inkblots, Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test and the Power Of Seeing by Damion Searls – to get some additional context about its creator and for what he truly intended the test.

At its core, the Rorschach test is a series of ten symmetrical images, open to interpretation. Rorschach had a background as a visual artist and built the test to learn more about people via what they thought they saw, rather than what the images might be literally. The inkblots don’t show up until well into this book, however, which traverses the story of Rorschach’s childhood, his work in a Swiss asylum, and more. And, it turns out, Rorschach himself wasn’t around for much of the popularity of his groundbreaking study, but Searls artfully chronicles how they have been used, and misused, since their introduction.

Well worth reading for anyone who has ever been intrigued by the Rorschach test and wants to know more about its creator, intent and development.

Learn more: The Inkblots, Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test and the Power Of Seeing by Damion Searls

This book was provided by Blogging for Books. All opinions are our own.