Abstract
This eye-tracking study was designed to analyze the effect of artistic transformation of photographic image to a painting on oculomotor behavior. We employed unique set of stimuli, consisting of painting and the photographs used by authors of the paintings as direct source images.
By analyzing the differences in basic eye movement measurements (BEMM) and the explored area, a statistical account of the shift in viewer's behavioral reaction to the painting contrasted to the photographs was obtained. Paintings moved the eye quicker, and viewing was more dispersive.
We have further found correlations between the level complexity of paintings and BEMM and analyzed the top down factor of expertise. Furthermore, we compared fixation maps of paintings versus photographs and found significant shift.
We suggest that the difference in fixation maps can be interpreted as a behavioral index of artistic transformations, including artist's intention (AI). in the light of the theoretical background of AI that includes even motor acts, we introduced the idea of using oculomotor behavior as an index of a viewer's inference of AI, as exemplified in case studies.