HISTORIX Vintage 1915 My Wife and My Mother in Law Photo Print - Vintage Photo of My Wife and My Mother-in-Law Poster by William Ely Hill

Illustrated by noted cartoonist William Ely Hill, this widely popular optical illusion became one of the most noted and lauded pieces of work in the early twentieth century, which brought Hill's work into national prominence. Hill would go on to illustrate the dust jackets for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novels, which became some of the most iconic literary illustrations in American writing and remain some of the most sought-after images in the bodies of collectors of first-edition vintage literature,,. This optical illusion requires the viewer to alter their perspective to see two pictures in the same illustration; one is a young woman facing away, wearing a necklace that makes up the lips of the older, more dour woman representing Hill's mother-in-law. Though the design was not a Hill original, his iteration became the most popular and is still included in personality quizzes and psychology textbooks. Hill's work was inspired by a postcard created in 1888. In 1917, Hill compiled his work in the book Among Us Mortals, which was divided into twelve chapters that feature different periods of Hill's illustrations from his work for numerous publications, but predominantly Puck Magazine, for which he was the primary illustrator for the covers. This image, one of the most popular pieces of optical illusion, is not just a part of American artistic history, but also a cultural icon that represents the culture of the time. Its unique aesthetic and distinctive style transport the viewer back in time, allowing them to appreciate the cultural impact and enduring popularity of this piece.