[The autistic child, his thoughts, his body and his images. Or the footprint of a step not yet taken].

The author studies the autistic mind through the concept of image. This concept is differentiated from the processes of representing (and mainly self-representation), figuration and communication. The author then discusses different aspects of the image: mental image, mirror image and physical image. Finally is discussed the narcissistic or objectal polarity of image production in the autistic child and the author argues that in these cases the transformation from the original to the primary level is essentially disturbed.