Etterbilde

Etterbilde is a Norwegian noun meaning an image that remains or is formed after something else, often referring to a visual impression that persists after the original stimulus is removed. The word is built from etter meaning after and bilde meaning image, and it exists in the definite form etterbildet and in plural as etterbilder.

In vision science and psychology, etterbilde denotes an afterimage, a percept that persists after the stimulus has ended. Common examples include color afterimages produced by staring at a bright or high-contrast field. Afterimages can be described as positive (matching the general hue of the original stimulus) or negative (moving toward a complementary color).

Beyond the strict scientific sense, etterbilde is used in broader Norwegian to describe a reproduction, echo, or residual impression associated with an earlier image, event, or work. The term can be used metaphorically to talk about lasting influence, memory, or the lingering impact of a photograph, artwork, or moment.

Etymologically, etterbilde is a compound of the elements etter and bilde, reflecting its core idea of a picture that comes after or remains from something previously encountered. It is primarily used in Norwegian, with cognates found in related Germanic languages.