In the early seventies John Berger wrote:
''When an image is presented as a work of art, the way people look at it is affected by a whole series of learnt assumptions about art, assumptions concerning: Beauty, Truth, Culture and Civilisation, Form, Taste, Status, etc.'' (Ways of Seeing)
It is no surprise therefore that many painters, sculptors and photographers who exhibit their work in a gallery say to those who view it: 'trust your intuitive, your gut reaction'
Do you like it or not? Does it move you? Does it speak to you? Do you want to look at it again?
These questions are often answered instinctively in the fist few moments of looking at a work of art. Trust those reactions before you begin any intellectual analysis of the work or ask 'what does it mean?'