In search of Gestalt. Detectability of objects within cubist artworks enhances appreciation. C Muth1, R Pepperell2, C-C Carbon3 |
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1University of Bamberg, Germany |
| It is widely claimed that modern art is marked by perceptual challenge inducing ambiguity and uncertainty [e.g. Jakesch and Leder, 2009, The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 62, 2105-2112]. Especially cubist artworks exemplify various degrees of indeterminacy which can be reduced by the detection of objects or figures. Such ‘creation of order in disorder’ is suggested to be linked to appreciation [f.i. Hekkert & Leder, 2007, in: Product aesthetics, Schifferstein and Hekkert, Amsterdam, Elsevier]. We present two studies revealing that indeed, we prefer challenging artworks that offer detection of Gestalt. Twenty participants rated 120 cubist paintings on liking and in a subsequent block on detectability of objects. In a second study, participants pressed a button when they detected objects within the artwork and another if detection was impossible. The first study revealed a strong relation between detectability and liking. Preference in the second study was higher the more often people detected objects in the artworks and the faster detection was reported. We argue towards a mechanism that allows us to derive pleasure from finding meaningful patterns motivating exploration in an ambiguous world. |
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