Viewing art in galleries and museums reduces stress hormon level

This is the perfect forum to post this in. It spans countries and enables all to see if they are not viewing the forum with the "All Topics" view.

And that is very interesting information. I have not followed your link yet but I wonder if there is a difference in stress reduction levels in the cool, calm Courtauld (or it has been the times I've visited) VS the main entrance hall to the Mona Lisa route in the Louvre, lol!

Interesting article. It does make me wonder how I would fare in such as study. I don't like modern and contemporary art, just don't have kind things to say. I love the Dutch Golden Age, I love still life. I went to Mauritshuis just to see the Girl With a Pearl Earring and went to the Science Museum in London just to the the painting Coalbrookdale at Night. Absolutely loved the Rijksmuseum, and there was a moment in there when I was the only one there and it was beautiful and peaceful. I had the Milkmaid and the Night Watch to myself. Then the crowds showed up and it became very stressful.

I know what you both mean - in my case the relaxation effect caused by Kadinsky or Dali is likely lower than falling in thoughts over a Turner or a few ones from Caspar David Friedrich.

Mark, I found this so interesting and totally find museum visits, especially art museums some of the best things I do when traveling. I read this right after a visit of several hours in the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston yesterday. We are camping in Austin,Houston and College Station while on a winter road trip hitting presidential libraries and the occasional art museum. The art museum is definitely a chill out happy place for me.

indicating that art engages the body through both emotional arousal(...)

Are they talking about Olympia?

-- Mike Beebe

Lyndash, that is good to hear. Hopefully I will have the chance o return to Houston to visit this museum.

I remember sitting on the high-floor of a very high building and began to starring at Houston skyline through this huge windows because I was nearly alone there. Somehow like a painting. It is more than 10 years ago so I do not remember the name of the building or the high-floor outlook venue.

Let me add, unless you are in a wheelchair. I can't believe how many people shove their way in front of me. Whole tour groups block out the more famous works. We have started going to smaller museums and it is better.

I fully support your point, Deb. Even without a wheelchair, it bothers me. I dislike the walk-though people stopping and standing in-front of a larger painting so close that they are unable to see the whole picture and disturbing people who try to do this.

Maybe museums shall put a reminder into their rooms comparable to paragraph 1 in German street traffic law:
"Die Teilnahme am Straßenverkehr erfordert ständige Vorsicht und gegenseitige Rücksicht."
"Participation in road traffic requires constant caution and mutual consideration."

I agree with some of the PPs. While I thoroughly enjoy spending hours in art museums and galleries, timing is everything. There is nothing enjoyable or stress reducing if you are surrounded by crowds. And can we have a conversation about the Instagrammers who plant themselves in front of a masterpiece for several minutes while they change poses for their camera person? Totally disregarding the people who are trying to view the artwork? I ran into that repeatedly last week, and it did my stress hormones no good whatsoever.

That article is interesting and timely. I am currently in Santa Fe where there are over 100 art galleries and many museums. I do believe that the museums here are calming and restful. At this time of year there are no crowds to contend with although yesterday one museum had free admission because the temporary exhibits were closed and in the process of being changed. There are risks to traveling to Santa Fe off-season (last year we were delayed due to a snow storm) but this year the weather is wonderful.

Interesting information - thanks for sharing this. I love a good, relatively uncrowded museum with the types of art I enjoy. Mark, I too prefer the classics over abstract or modern art. And indeed, bad behavior of others, like standing smack in front of a painting while listening to the whole entire recorded description, detracts from my enjoyment. Whether I come alone or with a friend, to me museums are best experienced solo, at my own pace. ("Let's meet in two hours at the entrance - and we can text if we need to change this.")

I dislike the walk-though people stopping and standing in-front of a
larger painting so close that they are unable to see the whole picture
and disturbing people who try to do this.

UhOh, Mark and I better pick different days to visit an art gallery. I don't think I'd categorize myself as a "walk-through" but I'm also far from an art connoisseur. When I was at the Rijksmuseum in October there was a couple of paintings that fascinated me. One needed to be looked at closely (in my opinion) to catch all that was going on in it. As far as I know it wasn't a high profile painting but I'll admit I was oblivious if I was blocking anyone else wanting to see it. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/Winter-Landscape-with-Ice-Skaters--918895dc18da94e357c6763adda8882f

Whether I come alone or with a friend, to me museums are best
experienced solo, at my own pace. ("Let's meet in two hours at the
entrance - and we can text if we need to change this.")

My wife and I have this strategy at all museums; I'm definitely more of a lingerer than she is. 2 hours is her limit while 2 hours to me is the warm-up; which is weird because I'm the A in ADHD.

Allan, of course I understand that some people are slower in adapting cultural habit of close together situations when visiting museums in a country with a dozens or even hundred times higher population density. An important point for travelers. And thank you for opening up the interesting question how non-gallery behavior might be perceived by different people in a gallery environment; to stay in the frame-set of the study.