Line Spacing in Mondrian Paintings and Computer-Generated Modifications.

Students compared computer-generated pictures of which I had line spacing and orientation proportional to that in a Mondrian picture (Mondrian-like), and 9 had divergent line spacing (divergently spaced). Preference was above average for the Mondrian-like picture compared with that for the divergent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of General Psychology Vol. 132; no. 3; pp. 281 - 292
Main Authors: Wolach, Allen H., McHale, Maureen A.
Format: Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd July 2005
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Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Description
Summary:Students compared computer-generated pictures of which I had line spacing and orientation proportional to that in a Mondrian picture (Mondrian-like), and 9 had divergent line spacing (divergently spaced). Preference was above average for the Mondrian-like picture compared with that for the divergently spaced pictures. However, participants did not prefer the Mondrian-like picture to divergently spaced pictures that were preselected as aesthetically pleasing by other participants. The results of the present experiments suggest that a computer algorithm can be developed to modify a picture in a way that is comparable with the way in which humans modify a picture to obtain a preferred picture. If aesthetic appeal is used in the storage and retrieval of visual information, then the algorithm could provide a better understanding of human perceptual processes. The results are related to consistency of aesthetic judgments across participants, levels of processing, and apparent contrast effects. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.