A classic illustration of the figure-ground relationship presents an ambiguous image that can be perceived in two distinct ways. Viewers might see a white vase, in which case the surrounding black area is perceived as the background. Alternatively, they might perceive two black silhouettes of faces looking at each other, which relegates the central white area to the background or negative space. This perceptual shift highlights how identifying an element as the 'figure' determines what becomes the 'ground'.