Girl with a Pearl Earring ‘evokes ten times more emotion than reproductions’

Vermeer’s masterpiece and other original paintings ‘stimulate the brain on several levels’, say researchers

Looking at an original piece of art creates up to ten times the emotion than viewing a print, even if the reproduction is exhibited in museum-like conditions, a study has found.
Researchers in the Netherlands used electroencephalograms (EEGs) to study the neurological activity of people looking at original works and copies in the Hague’s Mauritshuis museum.
They discovered that the real paintings, which included The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, had much more emotional impact in findings described as  “important and relevant for the entire museum sector”.
Erik Scherder, professor of neuropsychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, said: “Watching art stimulates your brain on several levels. It evokes excitement, triggers imagination and makes you think about what you see. It’s an ultimate enrichment, activating your brain to the fullest.”
The other paintings used in the Mauritshuis-commissioned study were Rembrandt’s self-portrait from 1669 and his The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp from 1632. Vermeer’s View of Delft from 1660-61 and Gerard van Honthorst’s The Violinist from 1626 were also used.
The study found that the Girl with the Pearl Earring was particularly powerful.
Researchers found a part of the brain known as the precuneus, which is involved in the sense of self, self-reflection and memory, was “by far the most stimulated part” when people looked at the masterpiece.
The frame and lighting of a painting also affected how strongly it impacted people.
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Mauritshuis commissioned the study from Neurofactor, a Dutch company. Researchers used EEG headsets, MRI scans and eye trackers to compare responses to the originals and prints.
Twenty volunteers viewed the paintings and copies at the Mauritshuis and another 20 saw the reproductions while undergoing MRI scans.
Martine Gosselink, director of the museum, said the study “has shown once and for all that a visit to the Mauritshuis or another museum has much greater emotional value”.
Vera Carasso, director of the Netherlands Museum Association, said: “The results of this new research are important and relevant for the entire museum sector.”