The Desire to Touch a Painting

The Difference Between In-Person and Online Viewing of Artwork

Visceral sensations course through my body as I stand before a van Gogh at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. I was visiting relatives at the time and knew I had to see his work.

Racing up the stairs to the second floor of the museum, I turned the corner and came face to face with van Gogh’s sunflower painting. I was awestruck. Not by the rendition but by the physicality, the palpable energy this painting exuded.

No painting had affected me quite like it. It pulsed and vibrated in a way that drew me into its orbit — as if I was standing in front of van Gogh himself.

Even though this experience happened a number of years ago, as I write this article, chills course up my legs. The experience produced an emotion that made me want to touch his painting, to experience it intimately and physically.

Three things stand out for me when I think of experiencing original paintings in person. First, the texture and surface of the painting. Second, the scale and proximity. And third, the light and atmosphere. Let me elaborate on each of these points.

Texture and Surface

When you stand before an original painting, you can often see and feel the texture of the paint on the canvas. Brushstrokes, impasto layers, and the application of various materials like oil, acrylics, or mixed media create a tactile quality that an image on a screen fails to replicate.

The desire to touch a painting stems from the curiosity to feel these unique textures, to run your fingers over the contours of the artwork, and to connect with the artist’s physical process.

Scale and Proximity

Paintings in a gallery or museum often come in various sizes, and their physical presence can shock you. I recently viewed the John Singer Sargent show at the MFA Boston [currently on view until January 2024].

The sheer magnitude of his paintings is overwhelming. I was familiar with Sargent’s work, but I was unaware of how big some of his portraits were. Mrs. Fiske Warren and her daughter are almost life-size, making viewing it in person a unique experience.

The physical presence of a large-scale masterpiece can overwhelm your senses. Conversely, a small, delicate piece might draw you in for a closer inspection, creating a sense of mystery and delicate intimacy.

Proximity to art — which you can control in person [by stepping close in or standing back]— allows you to explore details and nuances that are impossible to appreciate through a digital image.

Light and Atmosphere

Viewing a painting in person allows you to experience how the play of light and the surrounding atmosphere interact with the artwork.

Natural and artificial lighting can enhance certain aspects of the painting, revealing hidden layers of color or creating shadows that add depth.

The atmosphere of the gallery or museum, including the silence or ambient sounds, contributes to the overall sensory experience, too. It can create a contemplative mood or evoke specific emotions that are integral to your connection with the painting.

Conclusion

In essence, the physical presence of a painting offers a multisensory experience that engages not only your sight but also your sense of touch, scale, and the environment.

This tangible connection can elicit powerful emotional and visceral responses that can potentially change who you are.

This unique combination of factors makes the desire to touch a painting and experience it in person so compelling for art enthusiasts.

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