Neuroscientists in the Netherlands unlock the secret of Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'
Scientists believe they have uncovered the secret behind the fame of Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer's renowned work "Girl with a Pearl Earring" after analyzing the effect it has on the brains of those who view it.
The Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, which houses the world-renowned painting, asked neuroscientists to measure the brain activity of visitors looking at this portrait and other artworks in the museum.
The researchers concluded that the viewer becomes entranced in what they call a "Sustained Attentional Loop" - a unique neurological phenomenon observed only in the case of "Girl with a Pearl Earring." The viewer's gaze is initially drawn to the girl's eye, then moves to her mouth, slides to the pearl, and then returns back to the eye in a continuous loop.
This captivating attention loop is why people tend to linger on this painting longer than others, says Martin De Munnik of the research firm Neurensics, which conducted the study. "You're compelled to pay attention, whether you want to or not," he explains.
The scientists' brain activity measurements also revealed strong stimulation of the precuneus, the part of the brain responsible for consciousness and personal identity. This is the first study of its kind to use EEG and MRI technologies to examine the neurological response to a work of art.
Furthermore, the researchers compared the brain's reaction when viewing the original painting in the museum versus a reproduction. They found that the emotional response evoked by the original was ten times stronger.
To carry out the study, the scientists fitted each of the 10 participants with an eye tracker and electrodes around their heads to monitor their brain activity while they viewed both original paintings and reproductions.
Martine Gosselink, director of the Mauritshuis, believes these findings underscore the importance of seeing original artworks in person. "It is very important to be interested in art, whether it's photography, dance or works from the Dutch Golden Age," she said, emphasizing that "the brain does not lie."
Vermeer often draws the viewer's attention to a specific focal point in his paintings, blurring the surrounding details. But "Girl with a Pearl Earring" has three such focal points - the eye, the mouth and the pearl - which sets it apart from his other works, according to the museum director.
seen in Netherlands
ความคิดเห็น