The Cheese Grater Image is a notorious piece of shock art featuring a raccoon character that originated within the furry community on the image board e621. While the original illustration is highly graphic, it transitioned into broader internet culture as a quintessential 'cursed image' used to evoke a sense of digital trauma or regret. In the meme landscape, it is rarely shown directly; instead, it is referenced to represent something so disturbing that it cannot be unseen. It is frequently used in 'reaction' formats where a user expresses horror after discovering the image's context, making it a symbolic gatekeeping rite of passage for those exploring the darker corners of web history.