Do you stare LONG at works of art?

Question

Do you look at it as a whole or in detail?

Answer 1

i depends on the piece.

an amazing painting like the old masters i would look at for a long time in detail because you understand more about it and can see things you missed when you first glanced at it.

simpler things like abstract pieces i look at as a whole.   they're nicer that way and they usually don't have much to see when you study them.

Answer 2

Yes I do. There are usually so many great details, and I also am just amazed at the talent of so many artists. In fact, I prefer to visit a museum on my own, so I can savor the experience.

Answer 3

if it is a good one i will look at it in details

if it is a normal one i will look at it as a whole

Answer 4

...only when I want to look intelligent. But now that I think about Maria's answer---yea, maybe that is ignorant anyways and not intelligent.

Answer 5

Hi AquaAzul, you've used the word "stare at" & then you asked whether we "look at"---this is confusing to me. All the 6 answers so far I've gone through, they meant "looking at". Well, they were fine with their view. But "staring long" at some art-work..huh huh huh huh...so amusing! Only fools & stupids are used to 'stare at' art work! :-) To me, any aesthetically rich art works are not to be stared for; those are to understand, to enjoy, to enrich oneself, to learn sometimes etc. "Looking at" suits here.

Now tell me how & which way should I answer your question?

Well, let me think that you meant 'LOOKING AT"---in that case, since human being are lovers of the beauty, they might look LONG at any beauty----may be an art work or any natural works. Sometimes few of us 'look LONG at' something for different reasons! A wise guy looks long at some art work being amazed; a semi-wise guy looks long at to understand fully; an average guy looks long at to know why the others are appreciating! :-) When one (of course, the wise one) looks LONG at some art work, obviously one looks at that, first as a whole, then in details.

Answer 6

it's better to look at it as a whole. People that look up really close to a piece of art really don't know anything about art and are just showing their ignorance.

Answer 7

I follow my heart when looking at a work of art.  If a painting, for example, catches my eye, I stop and take it in.  Sometimes, while doing so, a small detail stands out, and I consider how it reflects/enhances the whole piece.  As a writer, I find this benefits me, as small elements in a piece of fiction work in different ways.  I vary between contemplative/passive absorption of a painting, and active intellectual consideration of craft.