Abstract

The field of empirical aesthetics has emerged for years based on experimental psychological methods to explore aesthetic preferences. This review seeks for a better understanding of the directions in which empirical aesthetics research has evolved, focusing on artwork, beholder, and their interaction. Initially, the prevailing perspective was that aesthetic preferences would be determined by universal aesthetic principles inherent in artworks. However, some studies argued that aesthetic preferences are subjective and individualistic. Subsequent research proposed a more advanced viewpoint, suggesting that aesthetic preferences are formed through interactions between the factors of artworks and beholders. Nevertheless, the interaction between these two factors has mostly been addressed in late cognitive processes of aesthetic appreciation, neglecting aspects of interaction in early perceptual processes. Building upon this, the review aims to pinpoint the weakness of current experimental research and aesthetic appreciation models in empirical aesthetics, and to propose new directions for future research in the field of study.