How We Look At Art And Why it Matters - A Lot.

Willem de Kooning, Gotham News, Oil on Canvas, 1955


Why do we go to museums? Why do we seek out certain art works? What do we learn from looking? How do we maximize our experience?

Obviously, we visit museums to enrich and expand our cultural lives. A majority of casual viewers may approach viewing an art work the following way:

1. Historical Context

2. Narrative Content

3. Personal Stylistic Preferences

4. Artist's Name Recognition

5. Because it is different or obviously provocative.

This approach might be improved. As is, it may result in superficial experiences and projections because there is no mechanism for the viewer to better understand the characteristics and expressions of a specific work. This might be enough for many. But, how do we get closer to the meaning of the work? A general and casual approach results in general and casual conclusions.

The questions we ask ourselves while looking at an art work matter. To better gather our experiences, long contemplation with an open inquisitive mind is necessary. Changing the way we look at art challenges and influences basic assumptions. This is very difficult to accomplish because it is an active process requiring commitment and effort.

1. Let go of any preconceived ideas or prejudice about the art work or style. This is much harder to do than it sounds.

2. Relax and allow the art work to influence or lead your eye. Where does it go, how does it travel? Shut your eyes. Open them and allow the art work to lead your eye again. Does it travel the same way or differently? What areas are your eyes attracted to? Do this many times noting the similarities and differences of each experience. Stand at different distances and angles to the work and view it again and again.

3. How has the artist organized the art work to cause your eye to move in this way? Take your time to think about this question. Be thorough and considerate. What colors, values, lines, textures, and shapes are used and how are they placed on the the surface? Is there an overall geometrical structure? Do you see any large simple geometric shapes or a shape motif?

4. Describe the pictorial space. Is it deep, shallow, both? Does it seem flat and spacial at the same time? Is it heavy with atmosphere? What is the quality of the light, the color? Is there an obvious light direction? How does the pictorial space influence you?

5. What role does time, or timelessness, play in the picture?

6. Describe the quality of the surface, the marks? How does the quality of the surface add to the meaning?

7. What is the size of the image? How does the size influence you, and what are some expressive reasons for the size?

8. What are the descriptive qualities? If the art work is "representational" what are the characteristics of the representation? Is it clear, clean, detailed? Is it about suggestion and less detail? How does this influence meaning specifically?

9. If the image contains a person or people, how are they portrayed and for what purpose? What role does gesture play? What do you experience as you look at the person or people? How do you relate to them?

10. During your thorough investigation, what thoughts and feelings are generated within you by the art work? Connect and anchor your thoughts and feelings to the art work and to specific visual decisions made by the artist.

11. Consider the historical context. When and where was the art work created? What was the political climate, the artist's reputation? How was the particular art work received in its day? What was its purpose?

12. If there is a narrative? What is the story and how is it told? Compare it to renditions by other artists of the same time and culture, and to artists of different times and cultures. What was the significance of the narrative within the culture? Be specific.

13. What is the provenance and how does this contribute to our understanding of the aesthetic, monetary, and cultural value of the work?

14. Seek out and study professional opinions about the particular work. Question and vet the conclusions drawn by the author.

This is not meant to be a definitive process or a sequential list. But, by using this approach you are more likely to uncover a specific experience with a specific art work. Like a close reading, it encourages longer contact and thorough consideration. Trust your eyes.