A team of neuroscientists has unraveled the mystery behind Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With The Pearl Earring” painting, which remains one of the world’s most popular works. By measuring brain output when viewing the portrait and other famous paintings, researchers discovered a unique neurological phenomenon they called “Sustained Attentional Loop.” This phenomenon keeps viewers captivated by focusing on the girl’s eye, then down to her mouth, across to the pearl, and back to her eye.
Martin de Munnik, lead researcher from Neurensics, explained that the brain is automatically drawn to this repetitive pattern, making it harder to look away. “You have to pay attention whether you want to or not,” he said. The scientists also found that the precuneus, a part of the brain governing consciousness and personal identity, was stimulated more than usual.
The researchers used EEG and MRI brain scanning machines to measure the neurological response to artwork for the first time. They compared the reaction to viewing an original painting versus a reproduction and found that the emotional response was ten times stronger when looking at the genuine work.
Mauritshuis Director Martine Gosselink emphasized the importance of seeing original art, citing its benefits for brain development. “The brain doesn’t lie,” she said. The study highlights Vermeer’s unique composition technique, where he often drew attention to one spot in his works, and how this differs from other paintings.
De Munnik expressed interest in conducting similar studies on other famous paintings, sparking a friendly rivalry between “Girl With The Pearl Earring” and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Gosselink jokingly referred to the two works as having a competitive relationship, with her suggesting that times may have changed and made the Mona Lisa less prominent than it once was.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-secret-girl-pearl-earring.html