Perspectiva

Perspectiva refers to the position or standpoint from which something is observed or considered. In Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, the word denotes both a physical viewpoint and a figurative stance toward a topic, including the methods or attitudes that guide interpretation.

In art, perspectiva describes the techniques used to depict depth on a flat surface. Renaissance developments introduced linear perspective with a horizon line and vanishing points, enabling realistic proportions and spatial relationships. Atmospheric perspective uses color, light, and detail to convey distance.

In literature and cinema, perspectiva can refer to narrative point of view or focalization. Works may employ first-person narrators, omniscient third-person perspectives, or shifts in vantage point to shape what the audience knows and how events are interpreted.

In philosophy, perspectivism is the view that knowledge is always bounded by a standpoint, and there may be multiple valid interpretations rather than a single absolute truth. Friedrich Nietzsche is associated with this idea, which has influenced discussions on epistemology and relativism.

In psychology and cognitive science, perspective-taking is the ability to understand another's mental state, a core element of empathy and social interaction. In computing, graphics and visualization use perspective transformations to render three-dimensional scenes on two-dimensional displays.