The Inkblots

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This captivating untold story explores Hermann Rorschach and his iconic inkblot test, which has profoundly influenced our understanding of human personality and permeated popular culture. In 1917, while working in a remote Swiss asylum, psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach created an experiment to delve into the human mind. Influenced by Freud, Jung, and modern artists, he believed that our identity is defined more by what we perceive than by what we articulate. As a visual artist himself, Rorschach developed a set of ten inkblots that soon gained popularity in America. The test was adopted by the military after Pearl Harbor, featured prominently at the Nuremberg trials, and was utilized in the jungles of Vietnam. It became a staple in advertising, a cliché in Hollywood and journalism, and inspired figures like Andy Warhol and Jay Z. Millions have taken the test, including defendants, job applicants, and those seeking self-understanding. Drawing on unpublished letters, diaries, and interviews with Rorschach's family and colleagues, Damion Searls narrates the test's creation, its controversial evolution, and its enduring legacy, revealing the profound impact of perception. Elegant and original, this work highlights a significant intersection of art and science in the twentieth century.