Have you ever wondered why people can spend several minutes admiring a single

A

Aishiteru

New member
painting inside a museum yet..? ..walk past similar paintings in restaurants, hotels or peoples homes everyday without much more than a glance?
I mean, of course, many of the work of museum-featured artists are incredibly talented and I have the up most respect for them. But,
the other day my friend dragged me along to the National Art Gallery in Trafalgar Square, London and I was more mesmerised by the
the people and their silence as they concentratingly gazed at these paintings, some even appeared to not move for several seconds.
And in contrast, I've walked through towns abroad in several continents and seen paintings that to me appear just as lovely as some of the museum-featured ones, but little people stop or find much interest in them.
Thoughts please?
Kind Regards,
Charlotte.
Derke N: You've humoured me, be rest assured!
Very impressed with every one of your answers!
 
Hello Charlotte :D

A museum is a place for contemplation.

Outside of this settled environment, some people can feel too rushed to be able to stand for minutes at a time looking at a painting, no matter how beautiful.

Perhaps for some, it could be snob value:

They are in a museum, museums have smart people in it, therefore I must act smart
In the street. art is everywhere. People become complacent.
 
the people who had loved to spend several minutes on admiring these paintings alone will come to museum...
yet there will be people wont have interest in these will too in a roadway or in the other areas will be there and therefore only little people will have interest in them
 
Strangely enough, when I lived in Amsterdam I used to regularly visit the Van Gogh museum. It was interesting to sit and watch people looking at the art. Many would spend more time reading the little white sign next to each painting (saying what it was and when it was painted) than they would looking at the paintings. It was almost as if they came to see the signs rather than the art!
 
Interesting observation, the thing about seeing a painting in a gallery is that you have gone there to do that, where as out and about on the town you are distracted, going somewhere...people often dont notice their surroundings because they're mind is somewhere else.
 
No I've just always wondered
1) Why people can spend several minutes admiring a single painting.
2) Why people buy DVDs when they only watch things once.

People mainly go to the National Gallery because:
It is free
To use the toilet
To get out of the rain.
To sit on the floor.
 
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