An artificial visual recognition system and method employ a digital processor and a model executed by the digital processor. The model has a loose hierarchy of layers. Each layer, from a lowest hierarchy level to a top level, provides relatively increasing selectivity and invariance of the input image. The hierarchy allows bypass routes between layers. On output, the model produces feature recognition and classification of an object in the input image. In some embodiments, windowing means provide windows of the input image to the model, and the model responds to shape-based objects in the input image. In another feature, segmenting means segment the input image and enables the model to determine texture-based objects in the input image.