When perceiving is creating: visual art and eye-tracking technology

Abstract

What do we look at when viewing works of art? There is little research on this topic and most of it has occurred outside of the lab and with indirect measures. The present study focused on art gazing while using an eye-tracking device to answer a series of questions related to art viewing, art perception, art knowledge, and art interest. We asked 15 participants to view eight paintings by well-known artists (e.g., Picasso and van Gogh) while their eye movements were collected, and we assessed their art interest and art knowledge via questionnaires. Heat maps for the eight paintings were produced and demonstrated clear differences in gaze patterns depending on painting type (e.g., realist vs. abstract, landscape vs. portrait). For example, in realistic paintings, such as the portraits presented, the focal points are clear and strong. In the abstract paintings, like the geometric ones presented, the focal points are dispersed and softer. Correlational analyses demonstrated that participants with higher art interest and art knowledge were more likely to spend more time looking at the paintings but did not differ from others with lower interest and knowledge in which paintings were preferred. Instead, participants showed clear preferences for realistic paintings over modern abstract paintings. This preliminary data suggests that we look at art differently depending on the type of painting and that our knowledge and interest in art also influence our looking behaviour. As we continue with this research, we will further our investigation into areas of interest in landscape paintings to determine which area is gazed at the most: foreground, midground, or background.