Can You Spot The Smiling Man Hiding In This Optical Illusion?

Can you see the portrait of a man hidden in this optical illusion?

The new take on the classic Magic Eye illusion was shared online by Akiyoshi Kitaoka, a psychology professor of visual perception and illusion at Ritsumseikan University in Kyoto, Japan.

One of my portraits pic.twitter.com/URmDspcwnH

— Akiyoshi Kitaoka (@AkiyoshiKitaoka) March 22, 2017

[SCROLL DOWN FOR THE ANSWER] 

Kitaoka has created hundreds of extremely popular illusions, some of which you have probably seen popping up on your social media channels.

So can you see the smiling man?  Take a closer look and the illusion should eventually be revealed.

 

https://giphy.com/gifs/mr-bean-exam-xUpTit5H9CLv2

If you are struggling to see it, then doing the below could help:

• Try looking at the illusion from a sideways angle
• Try moving the image around as you look at it (or scroll up and down)
• Try looking at the illusion from a distance

Kitaoka explains the illusion is a “masking phenomenon”, adding: “High-spatial-frequency components disturb the perception of low-contrast objects.”