Experiencing art in its original form offers a profound connection that even the highest quality reproductions can’t fully replicate. For instance, Johannes Vermeer’s renowned painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, was meticulously scanned in a staggering ten billion pixels, as previously highlighted on Open Culture. Yet, a recent scientific study delved into why viewing original art in museums can feel more engaging than on a screen or page.
Commissioned by the Mauritshuis, which houses this Vermeer masterpiece, researchers recorded brain responses using electroencephalograms (EEGs) to confirm that genuine artworks, including the Girl with a Pearl Earring, evoke a significantly stronger and more positive neural response than their reproductions, as noted in the museum’s press release.
The allure of the ‘Girl’ has its roots in a distinctive neurological phenomenon. She uniquely engages viewers in a sustained attentional loop, triggering the precuneus area of the brain involved in self-reflection and episodic memories, creating a continuous cycle of attention that is notably powerful.
Although several renowned works were included in this study, Girl with a Pearl Earring stood out with the most significant neurological impact. Compared to others like Rembrandt’s Self-Portrait (1669) or Van Honthorst’s Violin Player, Vermeer’s painting shows remarkably prominent features that entice viewers into deeper observation. The captivating journey of attention begins at the Girl’s eyes, shifts to her mouth, then to the enigmatic pearl, and cycles back, forging an unforgettable experience. While EEG headsets might not have been foreseen by Walter Benjamin when defining art’s “aura,” they scientifically validate this concept today.
Related content:
Why is Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring Considered a Masterpiece?: An Animated Introduction
A 10 Billion Pixel Scan of Vermeer’s Masterpiece Girl with a Pearl Earring: Explore It Online
See the Complete Works of Vermeer in Augmented Reality: Google Makes Them Available on Your Smartphone
Ingenious Improvised Recreations of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Using Materials Found Around the House
A Guided Tour Through All of Vermeer’s Famous Paintings, Narrated by Stephen Fry
Artists May Have Different Brains (More Grey Matter) Than the Rest of Us, According to a Recent Scientific Study
Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the Substack newsletter Books on Cities and the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles. Follow him on Twitter at @colinm arshall or on Facebook.
