There’s something unspoken and powerful that happens when we stand in front of a beautiful painting or a moving sculpture. Our breathing slows. Our thoughts soften. Our heart feels... something we can’t quite name.
That’s because looking at art doesn’t just stimulate our eyes — it nourishes the soul.
And it turns out, science agrees.
The Science Behind Art and the Mind
Art doesn’t just feel good to look at — it actually has measurable effects on the brain and body. According to a 2011 study published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, viewing art activates the brain’s reward system, lighting up the same areas associated with love and pleasure (Cela-Conde et al., 2011).
Another study from University College London found that looking at beautiful art triggered a release of dopamine, the same feel-good chemical released when we fall in love (Kawabata & Zeki, 2004). Just 10 minutes with a powerful piece of art can lower cortisol levels, reduce stress, and elevate mood.
So whether you’re standing in a museum or scrolling through images online, let’s explore five artworks that science says are especially good for your mind and mood.
1. Monet’s “Water Lilies” Series (1899–1926)
Why it helps: Claude Monet’s dreamy brushwork and gentle colours soothe the nervous system. In a 2018 study by the University of Westminster, participants who viewed Impressionist art (including Monet) reported significantly lower levels of stress.
Try this: Spend 2–3 minutes slowly scanning a Water Lilies painting — as if you were floating on the pond yourself.
2. Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” (1889)
Why it helps: The swirling skies and rhythmic movement are hypnotic, activating brain regions linked to creative thinking. A study in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that Van Gogh’s brushwork can create a kind of “visual harmony” that calms the brain (Zeki, 2013).
Try this: Let your eye follow the swirls and flow. Notice how your breath matches the painting’s energy.
3. Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (1831)
Why it helps: The composition creates a visual balance of motion and stillness. A study in NeuroImage found that viewing Japanese woodblock prints like Hokusai’s activates areas of the brain associated with awe and perspective-taking, helping us feel part of something bigger.
Try this: View it mindfully while breathing deeply. Let the wave be your metaphor — powerful, but passing.
4. Kandinsky’s “Composition VIII” (1923)
Why it helps: Abstract art, according to research published in Scientific Reports (Vessel et al., 2012), triggers personal meaning-making in the brain — which can reduce rumination and promote inner clarity. Kandinsky believed his abstract forms could evoke music for the soul.
Try this: Listen to instrumental music while viewing the piece. What feelings rise up?
5. Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” (1907–08)
Why it helps: This golden embrace activates the brain’s empathy and reward centres. Artworks involving tenderness and connection can reduce feelings of loneliness and increase oxytocin, the “bonding hormone.”
Try this: Let the warmth of the gold and intimacy of the figures wash over you. Feel the comfort.
Let Art Do Its Quiet Work
Looking at art isn’t a luxury — it’s a gentle act of care. When life feels overwhelming or colourless, art invites you into a moment of pause, beauty, and breath.
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to look — slowly, kindly, curiously.
So go ahead. Scroll through a virtual gallery. Print out your favourite piece and hang it near your desk. Let art be your window back to yourself.
How Looking at Art Is Good for the Soul, with 5 examples
This post is a collaborative effort between AI and myself in order to work a little bit faster.
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