Segmented Steganography
R. Sale > 09-12-2025, 07:06 PM
Rather than the usual type of steganography, based on the placement of words on a page, the VMs has been equipped with a system based on the placement of extended text segments. Rather than 'hiding" words on a page, the VMs "hides" text segments in circular diagrams. Rather than a grille to find the hidden words, the VMs used patterned markers to designate selected text segments. A grille is too obvious and potentially lost. Patterned markers are more subtle, they might be irrelevant, and they stay in place. A functional structure was created, but was it activated?
Examples of marked text segments occur in the cosmos, zodiac, rosettes, etc. Markers occur in a number of variations. While some are elaborate and obvious, do single lines or blank spaces also constitute 'markers'?
The problem is that designated text is still Voynichese writing that cannot be read. However, the advantage is that this provides specific segments of text to compare and contrast with statistical investigations.
As to whether the artist actually recognized this steganographic technique and chose to provide verification in the VMs illustrations, the answer is provided in VMs White Aries where the text marker joins the blue-striped tub.