Kate was exploring a Paris museum when a piece of art left her in ‘silent awe’

There’s no denying that Europe is dripping in beauty. From the gondolas of Venice to the white-washed walls of Santorini, it’s a sumptuous feast for your eyes.

Add in the intricate beauty of the Sistine Chapel, along with museums bursting with some of the world’s most famous artworks, and it’s enough to take your breath away.

That’s what Kate Branch discovered. When she was 19, she lived in Europe and went to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris where she locked eyes on Édouard Manet’s painting Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe. “Words failed me at that moment. I merely stood before the masterpiece in silent awe,” she says.

At the time, Branch couldn’t understand why that piece moved her so much. Now aged 42 (with a master’s degree in art therapy under her belt), the social media manager and photographer says her reaction at the time made sense.

She now understands that the painting evoked a deep sense of vulnerability in her, which mirrored how she felt as a young woman living overseas on her own. That’s one of the greatest powers of art, says Branch. “Much like a melody, art possesses the ability to resonate deeply within us, igniting our emotional core. It acts as a conduit, connecting us to our most profound emotions and reminding us of the beauty and vulnerability inherent in our shared humanity.”

Art therapist, psychologist and director of the College for Educational and Clinical Art Therapy in NSW, Rob Gray, says art also has the power to teach us more about ourselves. When we’re entranced by a certain piece, we question why that particular work moved us and, in doing so, learn more about ourselves. “So it’s actually not even about Leonardo da Vinci or any other artist,” he says.

When creating art or viewing it, we can also get into a state of flow. When we’re in this state, Gray says “time slows down. We forget everything around us and just focus on that experience. You let go of your worries, and you relax deeply inside.”

Levels of the stress hormone cortisol then drop. In that relaxed state, we’re more likely to spark our creative juices and feel inspired. “We basically feel alive,” Gray says.

But you don’t have to jet off to Europe to elicit such feelings. Branch has had many similarly enriching experiences on our own shores. Not only is Australia heaving with talented artists and incredible museums, she says we can also enjoy many wonderful installations and exhibitions from visiting international artists.

But that doesn’t mean every piece of art will elicit a strong emotional response. Branch says when you wander around a gallery, you may only find one or two pieces that really speak to you.

To enhance your ability to be moved by art, Gray says you need to create the right environment. That means switching off your phone (or better yet, leaving it at home), taking your time to really look at each piece, and allowing yourself to get lost in the experience.

Learning more about an artist before seeing their artwork will also elevate your experience, says Branch, adding this is easily done by accessing one of a “million amazing YouTube channels on the life of artists”, or by having a quick read online about their life. When you know more about an artist before viewing their work, she says, the pieces “will sing so much more”.

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