Abstract
It has been observed that professionals tend to find abstract and complex art- works more attractive than the those who have not received any art education. The latter individuals are said to have difficulties in understanding and enjoying these artworks. This paper presents a novel approach to the cognitive and psy- chological aspects of art appreciation. The paper psychologically characterizes the relationship between the processing fluency theory of aesthetic pleasure and art works, analyses the differences in the experience of viewing figurative and abstract paintings, examines the influence of non-professionals’ stereotypes of art on their appreciation and creation, and integrates previous research findings. This paper aims to assist non-professionals in reducing non-professionals stereo- types and distance from abstract art, as well as in understanding and appre- ciating abstract art more deeply through the representation and contemplative experiential viewing approaches.
