Amazing Early 20th-Century Optical Illusion Skull Postcards

Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 1

Early in the 20th century, optical illusion skull postcards were hugely popular throughout Europe.

“Intended to cause the viewer to reflect on the inevitability of mortality and the consequent foolishness of all human ambition,” Vanitas or Memento Mori were what they were called.

One of the most well-liked optical illusions has always been the metamorphic skull. Artists and designers have been utilizing this type of image in postcards, comics, ads, and covers since the 19th century. Additionally, skull illusions have been utilized in a variety of graphic works. There are a ton of examples of satirical posters, pulp magazine covers, and, in more recent years, CD covers or movie posters that feature them. Many modern artists have also used these illusions in their work.

h/t: vintag.es

Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 2
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 3
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 4
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 5
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 6
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 8
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 9
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 10
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 11
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 12
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 13
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 14
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 15
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 16
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 17
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 18
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 19
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 21
Skull Optical Illusion Postcard 22

If you want more awesome content, subscribe to Design You Trust Facebook page.

More Inspiring Stories

Swedish Artist Simon Stålenhag Creates A Series Of Art Works For The New H&M Advertising Campaign

Swedish Artist Simon Stålenhag Creates A Series Of Art Works For The New H&M Advertising Campaign

Scary Photos of a Young Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist, 1973

Scary Photos of a Young Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil in "The Exorcist", 1973

Canadian Artist Creates Miniature Dioramas In An Old Vintage Ring Boxes

Canadian Artist Creates Miniature Dioramas In An Old Vintage Ring Boxes

Retro Arcade Game Ads from the 70s and 80s: A Nostalgic Look at the Cheesy Marketing of the Past

Retro Arcade Game Ads from the 70s and 80s: A Nostalgic Look at the Cheesy Marketing of the Past

Impressive Fashion Illustration by Eduardo García Benito For Vogue in the 1920s and ’30s

Impressive Fashion Illustration by Eduardo García Benito For Vogue in the 1920s and ’30s

A Collection of Incredible Rare Color Photographs of France in World War I

A Collection of Incredible Rare Color Photographs of France in World War I

Vintage Photos Show Lifestyle of Teenagers in the 1950s

Vintage Photos Show Lifestyle of Teenagers in the 1950s

The Man Who Made Everyone Look Famous: Richard Bernstein and His Iconic Interview Covers

The Man Who Made Everyone Look Famous: Richard Bernstein and His Iconic Interview Covers

This Digital Artist Fuses Everyday Experiences with Surreal Art While Juggling Architectural Precision

This Digital Artist Fuses Everyday Experiences with Surreal Art While Juggling Architectural Precision

Vintage Propaganda Posters of Spanish Civil War in 1937

Vintage Propaganda Posters of Spanish Civil War in 1937

This Photographer Restores “Unrestorable” Photos, And The Results Are Amazing

This Photographer Restores “Unrestorable” Photos, And The Results Are Amazing

Wonderful Color Pics Document The Trailer Life Of An American Family During The 1950s

Wonderful Color Pics Document The Trailer Life Of An American Family During The 1950s

Rare Hand-Colored Photographs of Japan on The Brink of Modernity in 1870s

Rare Hand-Colored Photographs of Japan on The Brink of Modernity in 1870s

111

Illustrations from “Potjeh” by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić, 1975

111

The Superb Typographic Posters by Elena Byalaya

The Skull Stickers by Frenchstickers

The Skull Stickers by Frenchstickers

Avicenna Canon Medicinae. Paris 13th Century. 21 1200x800

The Canon Medicinae: A Medieval Medical Scrapbook Gone Wild

Retro Photoshop Tool Bar Enamel Pin: 3 Of Throwback Fun By Maxistentialism

Retro Photoshop Tool Bar Enamel Pin: 3" Of Throwback Fun By Maxistentialism

The Cars That Money Can't Buy: 1953-1955 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. Concepts

The Cars That Money Can't Buy: 1953-1955 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. Concepts

Artist Reveals What’s Wrong With Our Modern Society In New Satirical Illustrations

Artist Reveals What’s Wrong With Our Modern Society In New Satirical Illustrations

Caitlyn Grabenstein Creates Surreal Collages That Combine Past And The Future Into Retrofuturistic Surrealism

Caitlyn Grabenstein Creates Surreal Collages That Combine Past And The Future Into Retrofuturistic Surrealism

A Comic Strip that Takes Food Literally: Chris Agee's 'Know Your Specialty Foods'

A Comic Strip that Takes Food Literally: Chris Agee's 'Know Your Specialty Foods'

A McDonald's in New Zealand Lets Diners Eat Inside a Decommissioned Airplane

A McDonald's in New Zealand Lets Diners Eat Inside a Decommissioned Airplane

Home Office from The Future Past: Maurice-Claude Vidili's Sphère D’isolation, Model No. S2

Home Office from The Future Past: Maurice-Claude Vidili's Sphère D’isolation, Model No. S2

Frozen Masterpieces: Pasi Widgren's Magical Animal Art on Lake Lapakisto

Frozen Masterpieces: Pasi Widgren's Magical Animal Art on Lake Lapakisto

The Tattooed Venus And The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The Tattooed Venus And The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Freeman's Days

Freeman's Days

1111

Kevin Sarasom's Hilariously Funny Dog Portraits

111

Impressive Vintage Posters Designed by Eric de Coulon

Fabulous Found Photos Of An Unknown Man Posing With Hollywood’s Finest At The Oscars And More In 1994

Fabulous Found Photos Of An Unknown Man Posing With Hollywood’s Finest At The Oscars And More In 1994