Looking at Paintings: Where Do You Stand?

What do you do when you look at a painting? I admit, I'd not consciously thought about it until I read Jonathan Jones' latest article The Guardian on a Rembrandt exhibit. He starts: "The first thing anyone has to do when looking at a painting is decide where to stand. Personally, I will circle, go away, come back; stand as close as allowed, then far away, then leave the room and return. It's something we never talk about, as if it were an embarrassing or boring distraction from the serious matters of form and content, but it's an important decision."

Thinking about it, I realised I do have a routine or ritual. On entering a room in a museum or gallery, I scan everything. If something catches my eye, I head straight to it, ignoring everything else for the moment. I always look as close as I can -- folding my hands behind my back seems to reassure the gallery guards that I've no intention of touching the painting! So, what's your ritual? Vote in the poll below simply by clicking on your choice.

How do you look at paintings?
1. As close as I can
2. At arm's length
3. From a few feet /metres away
4. First close, then far
5. First far, then close
6. Depends if I brought my glasses
7. Something else
(View the results of this poll so far...)

^{Photo: © Robin-Elaine: Striped Skirt}