A visual metaphor is the representation of a person, place, thing, or idea by means of a visual  image  that suggests a particular association or point of similarity. It's also known as pictorial metaphor and analogical juxtaposition. Examples and Observations "Studies of visual metaphors used for  rhetorical  purposes generally concentrate on advertising. A familiar example is the technique of juxtaposing a picture of a sports car . . . with the image of a panther, suggesting that the product has comparable qualities of speed, power, and endurance. A variation on this common technique is to merge elements of the car and the wild animal, creating a composite image..." Visual Metaphor in an Ad for Absolut Vodka "[The] subcategory of visual metaphor involving some violation of physical reality is a very common convention in advertising...An Absolut Vodka ad, labeled 'ABSOLUT ATTRACTION,' shows a martini glass next to a bottle of Absolut; t