The Power of Gaze in Art

The gaze is an act that does not include straining or forcefully staring at a piece or object which might normally be assumed. Gaze refers more so to the power behind one looking and thus the understanding, emotions, and other involvements that are received or given off in the process. When one looks at a piece of art, there is a reason for the look from the beginning. It might not necessarily be a good or bad one, but something about that work drew you to it. Through the gaze, one should be able to make some kind of relation between themselves and the object of interest. This relation could be anything from seeing themselves or wanting themselves to be in the art to admiration of the colors or interest in the location of the piece. Art could also be set-up so that only a certain gender or a certain culture would have a desire to "gaze". Overall, gaze holds power in it that allows the spectator to critique, judge, or just enjoy while also offering up emotions and desires that might be emitted by the spectator. Gaze is fundamentally important in the admiration of art and the appreciation of the entire spectrum of art as well as the artists and everything behind it that went into the work.