Being K. Malevich: A hands-on approach to compositional preference

• DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/7nb5d_v1
• Publication Date: 2025-04-28T14:58:11Z
• Authors: Doris Braun; Mara Hofmann; Vanessa Braner; Katja Doerschner-...

Perceived visual balance is one of the critical factors that determine whether an artwork perceived as aesthetically pleasing or not. This kind seems to depend on perceptual weight given major elements a composition can differ in size, position, shape, orientation and colors within pictorial field. We probe relationship between stability, dynamics, aesthetic ratings original compositions from Suprematist art movement participant-arranged with taken artworks. For each twenty-two art-naïve participants arranged first all shape corresponding “canvas” paper version separately according two tasks: create stable dynamic composition. After this, they transferred final computer rated their digital versions arrangements well Suprematists’ artworks degree balance, stability appearance personal preference. Qualitatively, ‘stable’ were more symmetrically often stacked lower part ‘canvas’, whereas ‘dynamic’ rotated respect field distributed unevenly asymmetrically over larger areas. The dynamics liking varied not much complexity for self-compositions, but substantially paintings. Our analysis revealed consistent difference individual preferences either arrangements.