Effects of Light Color on Visual evaluation of Sorolla’s Outdoor Paintings

Abstract

The present study investigates the impact of light source characteristics on the subjective perception and aesthetic appreciation of representational paintings, specifically works by Joaquín Sorolla. The primary objective was to determine how correlated color temperature (CCT) and spectral power distribution (SPD) while keeping the CCT constant influence the viewer’s perception of the depicted season, time of day, and overall atmospheric quality. Participants evaluated three artworks—depicting autumn foliage, a winter landscape, and a summer seaside—under 20 illuminant conditions with CCTs ranging from 3000 K to 10,000 K, utilizing both representative daylights and typical light-emitting diode (LED) spectra. The results demonstrate that CCT is the decisive factor in shaping the perceived atmosphere and temporal context while the specific SPD of the illuminant has a negligible effect. The effectiveness of specific lighting was highly dependent on the painting’s content: mid-range CCTs (4000–5000 K) best complemented the vitality of autumn scenes, and a similar range (4000–6500 K) was preferred for the summer seaside scene to capture its natural brilliance. In contrast, high CCTs (8000–10,000 K) were essential for conveying the crisp texture and frigid atmosphere of winter landscapes. These findings suggest that "atmospheric congruency," aligning the CCT of the illuminant with the environmental cues within the artwork, is more critical for viewer appreciation than differences in SPDs. This research provides valuable insights for museum lighting design to optimize the visual experience of representational art.

Keywords: Visual Impression, Museum Lighting, Subjective Evaluation, Correlated Color Temperature

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1007434