Beauty in the eye of expert and nonexpert beholders: A study in the appraisal of art

Author(s): Vanwieringen, P. C. W.

Journal/Book: Amer J Psychol. 1996; 109: 1325 S Oak St, Champaign, IL 61820. Univ Illinois Press. 389-407.

Abstract: In this study, professional art experts and nonexperts with an active interest in art rated sets of 10-20 slides of artworks made available by young artists. Each set was rated on bipolar scales, including not original-original; absence of craftsmanship-craftsmanship; and poor quality-good quality. Intraclass coefficients R(i) for these three stales were .17, .21, and .22 for experts and. 19, .08, and .16 for nonexperts, respectively. There was a significant agreement between experts and nonexperts with respect to originality, but no agreement with respect to craftsmanship and quality. The correlation between originality and quality was significantly (p < .01) higher for experts (r = .88) than for nonexperts (r = .40). Thus, experts seem to attach much more value to originality in determining aesthetic quality than nonexperts.

Note: Article P Hekkert, Delft Univ Technol, Fac Ind Design Engn, Dept Aesthet, Jaffalaan 9, NL-2628 Bx Delft, Netherlands

Keyword(s): RELIABILITY; CREATIVITY; PREFERENCE; PAINTINGS

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