Brushes and brains: Does handedness influence surface topography of art painting?

Abstract

Distinguishing between right-handed and left-handed painters in the realm of painting is a question approached from various angles across different disciplines. Each approach, whether it's from neuropsychology, the study of the artwork itself, or the artist's imprint on the work, contributes insights to the burning question of whether the myth of the left-handed painter being more talented than their right-handed counterparts holds true. In this study, we introduce an experimental method involving both left-handed and right-handed painters to determine if the surface topography of brushstrokes presents relevant parameters for differentiating handedness. After conducting an analysis of variance (ANOVA), we isolated relevant roughness parameters, the most significant are the mean hill roundness (Shrn) and the maximum dale aspect ratio (Sdarx). These parameters exhibit significant differences based on the painter's dominant hand. Other parameters also provide insights into the reliability of our study, specifically the texture direction (Std), which shows no difference among the painters. The results are discussed. These findings pave the way for a more comprehensive understanding of the painter's stroke in the process of art painting creation.