figure/ground relationship, n.All

Figure/ground relationship (n.) holds ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠that no figure is ever seen except against a background — come close enough and my body vanishes into a necktie.