Alexander Lapin’s book “Plane and Space, or Life in a Square” presents the reader with the author’s research in the field of psychology of visual perception of a flat image - a painting, drawing or photograph. The author includes in them the imaginary space behind the painting and the illusory space in front of it.

This book can be considered a continuation of the famous theoretical work of the artist Wassily Kandinsky “Point and Line on a Plane.” Lapin explains and proves much of what Kandinsky foresaw. Mainly this is the statement that everything in the picture is alive and the pictorial plane itself is a living being with its own character. According to Kandinsky, the main task of the theory is to “find the living,” Lapin develops this idea.

The book is addressed to everyone who studies the psychology of visual perception, as well as designers, artists and art historians, and will be of interest to those who seek deeper understand fine art.