Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The background refers to the part of a visual scene that is not the main focus or subject. It provides context and contrast for the figure.
Related terms
Foreground: This term refers to objects or elements in a visual scene that are closer to the viewer and stand out from the background.
Perceptual organization: It is our brain's ability to organize sensory information into meaningful patterns and distinguish between figures and backgrounds.
Figure-ground reversal: This occurs when we see an image or object as either a figure (foreground) or as its background, depending on how we interpret it.