In accordance with Seerveld's cartographic methodology 'visionary optics' is defined in terms of a recurrent set of connections between a certain type of pictorial representation and visual perceptions of mythical meaning. A perennial typiconic format stems from the tradition of painting historically associated with 'mythologising' thought patterns and worldviews. The cases examined to trace the development of the visionary format include examples of Bushman rock art, mural decoration from Roman antiquity, medieval altar painting, history painting from the Renaissance, Romantic landscape painting and modern abstract painting.
In aansluiting by die kartografiese metodologie van Seerveld word 'visioenêre optiek' gedefinieer in terme van blywende verbande tussen 'n besondere tipe van pikturale uitbeelding en visuele persepsies van mitiese betekenis. 'n Tipikoniese formaat stam uit 'n tradisie in die skilderkuns wat histories met 'mitologiserende' denkpatrone en wêreldbeskouings geassosieer word. Voorbeelde van Boesman rotsskildering, Romeinse wandskildering, Middeleeuse altaarskildering, historieskilderkuns uit die Renaissance, landskapskilderye uit die Duitse Romantiek en moderne abstrakte skilderkuns word ondersoek ter illustrasie van die ontwikkeling van die visioenêre formaat.
