Gestalt is a broadly multimedia approach to the study of psyhological-physical processes that form human perception.

Gestalt Principles of Figure/Ground: an object (form) is differentiated from its surroundings Context, Background), To see object as it really is (Arnheim) you must peel off context to see it as separate from the context. If the object can not be seen as an organized structure, it can not be separated from context.

Gestalt theory founders started forming this theory in the early 1920's in Germany. Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler, Kurt Lewis and Rudolf Arnheim were among the first Gestalt Theorist. Since Hilter, forced them out of Germany they ended up teaching their theory's in the Universities of the United States. Max Wertheimer (Professor at the (University of Berlin) lectured at the Bauhaus School of Design on Gestalt Theory in 1924. See link below for his full lecture. Rudolf Arhiem who wrote and worked on for over 30 years though several upgrades, "Art and Visual Perceptions". These Gestalt Theorist influenced the Bauhaus Designers and Artist which in turn influence all modern design and Art.