I’ve always had a very strong appreciation for the arts, and that’s something I can thank my parents for. Ever since I was young, my mom and dad would always take my siblings and me to museums on our days off from school. It’s no wonder I’ve come to think of museums as a kind of sanctuary, a sacred place that I can go to when I want to get away from the world.
Before my most recent visit to the Museum of Fine Arts, I hadn’t gone to an art museum in over a year. With the pandemic, school, and just the general chaos of life, I had grown too busy for it. I had neglected one of my favorite activities and had neglected a part of myself in the process. A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Emerson College advertising their discounted student tickets and saw that the MFA was holding an exhibit on Monet. Claude is one of my absolute favorite painters, as I have a fondness for the expression of the impressionist style. I decided I would clear my schedule that Sunday and treat myself to a museum date.
Fisherman’s Cottage on the Cliffs at Varengeville by Claude Monet
Walking through the galleries, I almost felt like I was dreaming, but in the best way. Fine art has a means of suspending time and completely transfixing the viewer. Monet, specifically, is able to invoke emotion and feeling through the colors of his paintings in a way that brings back memories of warm summer days spent in good company. It’s astonishing to stand up close to his works, seeing every single brushstroke and individual color, and then step back to reveal the full, cohesive scene. You truly feel like you’re there, sitting on the waterfront, watching the boats on the horizon.
As I moved through the different galleries, I felt incredibly at peace in the museum, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Boston. This got me thinking: why are museums so refreshing and thought-provoking? Do other people feel this way as they stroll through the hallowed halls of an exhibition? We all know that making our own art is a great way to boost our creativity and innovate, but can the same effect occur from simply viewing art? I set out to learn about the psychological effects of museum visits on cognition and creativity.
White Rose with Larkspur by Georgia O’Keeffe
Business Insider posted an article in 2014 about the links between viewing artwork and creativity. According to a study in the journal Brain and Cognition, viewing artwork activates areas of the mind associated with emotions, learning, and inner thoughts. This helps to explain that warm, summery feeling I had gazing at a Monet or the deeply sinister discomfort of a Hyman Bloom work. Not only that, but the article describes museum visits as a novelty-seeking venture, which has the added benefit of predisposing our brains to learn. When we visit an artistic venue, it opens our minds to new experiences and perspectives that help us relate to the world in new ways. This, in turn, helps us to be more creative people.
Translated Vase by Yeesookyung
If you want to get the full effects of artistic enrichment, you should definitely consider going to a museum in person, instead of just Googling your favorite painter or sculptor. In one study, students who visited a museum in-person remembered and enjoyed the art far more than those who took a virtual tour through the exhibition. There’s something special about the physical space of a museum, especially considering that so many museums are architectural marvels and works of art themselves. If the theory of situated cognition is correct, our appreciation of art increases significantly when placed in the context of an art museum.
Buddha Restoration
But it isn’t enough to go to a museum, take one glance at an artwork, and head home for the day. One study in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts found that the average amount of time that a person spends looking at a singular piece of art is only 29 seconds, compared to the recommended time of 5 minutes or more. If that sounds like an eternity, at least try to read the label next to the artwork and look at the piece just a bit longer than you want to. You might learn something fascinating that changes your whole perspective on a work! Slowing down and taking all of the details in is the key to a phenomenal museum visit.
Self Portrait in the Courtyard
When I left the MFA at closing time, I felt refreshed and alert in a way I haven’t felt in months. Something about being in a beautiful building and looking at masterpieces that showcase the full range of human talent brought me back to life after a difficult year.
If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting an art museum for the day. These sacred places provide a safe space to relax, reflect, and see the world in new ways. And don’t be afraid to take pictures and document what you saw as a memento (just make sure the museum allows it!).
If you visit any of your local museums, exhibitions, or venues, please be sure to let me know in the comments where you went and what you thought.
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