TOYOHASHI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

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Color Composition Preferences in Art Paintings Are Determined by Color Statistics

Press Releases | September 27, 2022

They Are Not Explained by Resemblance to Nature

A research team led by Professor Shigeki Nakauchi of Toyohashi University of Technology conducted an experimental study of the color composition preferences of 31,353 participants, for a total of 1,200 paintings with artificially manipulated color compositions. The group also identified the statistical color composition properties of the paintings to examine trends therein. Common trends in color composition patterns (statistical properties) were observed regardless of genre, and people were found to prefer color compositions closer to these patterns. It was posited that such preferences for original color compositions are mediated by their similarity to natural scenes that we observe in our daily lives; however, systematic differences were observed between the color compositions of the paintings and those of natural scenes, indicating that the use of color in paintings is unique and does not resemble the occurrence of colors in nature. In addition to predicting color composition preferences, the results of this study may provide clues to fundamental questions such as why people are attracted to certain color schemes, and the nature of preference and attraction.

Full text: Color Composition Preferences in Art Paintings Are Determined by Color Statistics
TUT website: Press release

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