Visual Complexity of Chinese Ink Paintings

Complexity is a key factor influencing aesthetic judgment of artworks. Using a well-known artist Wu Guanzhong's paintings as examples, we provide quantified methods to gauge three visual attributes which influence the complexity of paintings, i. e. color richness, stroke thickness and white space. By conducting regression analysis, our research validates the influences of given visual attributes on perceived complexity, and distinguishes the complexity measurements for abstract paintings and representational paintings. Specifically, all three factors influence the complexity of abstract paintings; In contrast, mere white space influences that of representational paintings.