We can imagine a mystery as a problem with something(s) important being missing or unknown. But how can that same feeling be portrayed visually? Of course there are the classic representations of puzzle pieces, clickbait images, and various forms of omission and censorship. These, however recognizable, have become more cliché and amusing than actually mysterious.

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So how can we change that?

How can we create an image that is itself a mystery?

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In some internet deep dives I’ve come across some aesthetics that I feel are highly effective in creating visual enigmas. Each uses a different combination of base image, visual components/illustrations, and lines of text to elicit different emotions.