RESEARCH PLANNING

Week 03 | 09/22/2023

How might we connect painting with music?

The question is refined, and how there are 3 more specific HMWs:

  1. How might we connect Dutch Golden Age paintings with Classical Music for the museum goers so they can have a better experience when enjoying the paintings ?

  2. How might we use music to enhance the experience and prolong the time that people spend on each painting?

  3. How might we choose the correct music periods and genres for the different pieces based on common aesthetics and interviews so that the viewers can have an enhanced experience and memory of the paintings?

Research Approach & Questions:

I will talk to some ITP friends on the floor, and if possible, I will invite a few to go to the MET with me. When they look at the paintings in person, I will ask them what type of music they are thinking about.

Below are the questions I plan to ask:

  1. Do you like listening to music while looking at these paintings?

  2. What is the expression of this painting, in your perspective?

  3. If you can choose, what kind of music would you choose?

Interview:

I interviewed Bingrui, one of my colleagues at ITP, about two paintings that I chose. The interview took place through text messages.

The paintings I choose are:

  1. The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, 1633, by Rembrandt.

  2. View of Delft, 1660-1661, Vermeer.

Below are the answers from Bingrui:

  1. “I never tried that before, but it seems really interesting to me!”

  2. for painting 1:
    - ”Rushing forward, amidst wild winds and stormy seas, in a perilous maritime environment. The people depicted in the artwork are incredibly brave, some are fearful, displaying a wide range of emotions. Amid the raging storm, a soft ray of light on one side offers hope, and the stark contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the courage and resilience required to overcome the challenging situation, intensifying the conflict within the scene. A realistic style resonates more with viewers as it closely mirrors reality.”
    for painting 2:
    - ”Gentle, calm, and cozy, the reflections on the water's surface are incredibly soft, with a gentle and impressionistic brushstroke. The warm color palette is soothing, alleviating stress. The multiple layers of buildings, boats, and figures in the painting enrich the scene, providing a rich narrative, as if one could step into the lives of the people in the small town. I really like the brush strokes of the painting. Also the contrast of light and dark really make the color vivid.”

  3. for painting 1:
    - Henryk Wieniawski - Polonaise de concert in D Major, Op. 4
    - Fran Liszt - La campanella
    for painting 2:
    - Antonín Dvořák - Humoresques | Violin
    - Fritz Kreisler - Liebeslied

    - Saint-Saëns - The Swan