Have you ever stood before a painting and felt something stir deep within you—an emotion, a memory, or even a sense of connection that words couldn’t explain? If so, you’re not alone. And now, science is proving what many of us have long known in our hearts: original artwork moves us in a way that reproductions simply cannot.
A compelling new study commissioned by the Mauritshuis Museum in the Netherlands has shown that viewing an original painting can evoke up to ten times the emotional response compared to a print of the same artwork. The study, conducted by Neurofactor and independent neuroscience agency Neurensics, used EEG headsets, eye trackers, and fMRI scans to measure how participants responded to four authentic masterpieces—including Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring.
Researchers found that the precuneus region of the brain, which is tied to self-reflection and memory, lit up significantly more when viewers saw the original paintings. As Erik Scherder, Professor of Neuropsychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, put it: “Watching art stimulates your brain on several levels. It evokes excitement, triggers imagination, and makes you think about what you see. It’s an ultimate enrichment, activating your brain to the fullest.”
This research confirms something I experienced firsthand years ago while studying in Florence, Italy. One afternoon, I found myself standing in front of Botticelli’s La Primavera at the Uffizi Gallery. I had seen this painting in textbooks and slideshows, but nothing compared to the moment I encountered the original. The size, the brushwork, the delicate details of the figures—it all overwhelmed me. I felt transported. The same thing happened when I saw The Birth of Venus. I still remember how the light fell across the gallery floor, how quiet the room was, and how my heart beat just a little faster.
It’s no wonder then, that some of my collectors have shared similar stories with me. One of the most touching moments happened a few years ago at an art fair. I had painted a vibrant street scene of New Haven, CT—the same one featured in the image above—where the Yale Art Gallery stands. A woman stopped and studied the piece for quite some time. She didn’t purchase it that day, but months later, after I posted that it had won Best Landscape at the Wethersfield Academy of Art Regional Show, she reached out immediately.
She told me she worked downtown and passed that very corner nearly every day. But there was something about the way I painted the crepe cart, the cast shadows on the sidewalk, and the college students chatting on the steps that stuck with her. She said she couldn’t stop thinking about it. That painting had created a lasting emotional connection—one that a photo could never replicate.
As artists and art lovers, we understand that original art isn’t just decoration. It’s a living, breathing piece of someone’s story. When we bring original artwork into hospitals, homes, and public spaces, we’re not just filling a wall. We’re enriching lives, evoking memories, and perhaps, offering healing.
So the next time you’re moved by a piece of original art—pause. That moment is worth holding on to.
Sources:
- Museums + Heritage Advisor: “Study shows original paintings evoke 10x emotional response over reproductions”
- Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague, Netherlands
