Art can improve our mindset. But does this also apply when viewing artwork on screen? An international research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics at the University of Vienna, Nijmegen and the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main chose to study this topic. The findings have now been published as an open-access publication in the journal Computers in Human Behaviour. 240 study participants visited Google Arts and Culture’s interactive Monet Water Lilies art exhibit.
By filling out a questionnaire, they provided information about their state of mind, how much pleasure they felt looking at the pictures, and how meaningful they considered the experience to be. Results show significant improvement in mood and anxiety after just minutes of watching. “Viewing art online is an untapped source of support for well-being that can be consumed as small bits of meaning-making and enjoyment,” said first author Mackenzie Troup of the University of Vienna.
The study also found that some participants were more receptive to the arts than others and were able to reap more benefits. This benefit can be predicted using a metric called “aesthetic response”. Edward A. said, “Aesthetic responsiveness describes how people respond to diverse aesthetic stimuli such as art and nature. The results showed that individuals with high levels of art and aesthetic responsiveness benefited more from viewing art online ” Wessel of the MPIEA, developer of the Aesthetic Responsiveness Assessment (AREA).
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The findings of this study are particularly interesting for those who are unable to visit museums in person, such as those with health problems. Furthermore, the results suggest that interactive art exhibitions and similar online experiences should be designed with an awareness of individual differences in aesthetic responsiveness. The study thus expands insight into the benefits and limitations of art in digital media and suggests a way to enhance the welfare potential of online art.