inkblot

Inkblot refers to a blot or print of ink created on paper, typically by applying ink to one surface and pressing another sheet onto it, or by folding the sheet to produce a symmetrical image. The resulting shapes are often abstract and can resemble natural or imagined objects. Because their appearance is not predetermined, inkblots are used both in artistic experimentation and as a tool in psychology, where they serve as stimuli that invite free association and interpretation.

In psychology, the most well-known application is the Rorschach inkblot test, developed by Hermann Rorschach in 1921. The test uses a series of ten standardized, symmetrical inkblots to elicit verbal responses from a respondent. Clinicians interpret the content, location, and determinants of responses to infer aspects of personality, perception, and emotional functioning. Over the decades, various scoring systems emerged, with debate about reliability and validity. Today, the Rorschach remains controversial in some settings, but continues to be used in certain clinical and forensic contexts.

In art, inkblots are used as a source of abstract imagery and chance-derived forms. Artists may create inkblot prints or paintings for spontaneous composition or as starting points for interpretations and narratives. The concept also appears in popular culture as a metaphor for projection and the idea that perception reveals inner thoughts.