No text, but a visual code

[R. Sale]

What we have here (IMO) are examples of proposed interpretation based on appearance. Panofsky said, "so far as can be made out" and Father Petersen said, "make it appear". And I agree with their interpretation of the *appearance* of the VMs illustrations. The difficulty is that much in the appearance of the VMs turns out to be problematic. Appearance can be misleading. Appearance can be deceptive.

If the interpretation of VMs appearance were clear and straight-forward, there would not be so many difficulties. Is there any example where the interpretation of appearance has advanced VMs investigation one step forward?