The image is of ado's "Kame" (Turtle).
People sometimes recall nostalgic memories or feel a sense of healing when looking at pictures or photographs. But what about animals? What kind of reactions do they show, especially when they see pictures or photographs of animals of the same species as themselves?
"Animal art," which is also popular in our store, is often chosen by households that live with pets such as dogs and cats. We have explored this interesting topic with reference to previous research and observational literature.
How do animals see paintings and photographs?
The information that animals receive from visual stimuli varies greatly depending on the species. Regardless of whether they "appreciate" pictures like humans do, understanding what they see and how they see it gradually reveals the reasons for their reactions.
● Dog
Dogs are dichromatic, meaning they can distinguish between blue and yellow, but cannot distinguish between red and green. While they show some interest in still images, they tend to react more strongly to moving images like videos. It's thought that when looking at photographs, they react to features such as outlines and posture.
● Cat
Cats also have dichromatic vision and are said to have difficulty recognizing red hues. They are particularly responsive to movement, often leaning forward or extending their paws towards moving images in videos. Conversely, they tend to show less interest in still images.
● Birds (such as pigeons)
Many birds possess tetrachromatic vision, allowing them to distinguish even ultraviolet light. Experiments with pigeons have shown that they can categorize portraits and distinguish between the painting styles of different artists (such as Monet and Picasso). Their ability to recognize shapes and color combinations is very high, and they may even react to abstract art.
● Chimpanzee
Chimpanzees possess a visual system similar to humans, and it has been observed that they focus on facial expressions when viewing photographs of other individuals. Furthermore, meaningful preferences are seen in their drawing behavior, suggesting that it is not merely play, but that there is a certain intention behind the colors and shapes they choose.
● Turtle
Turtles (especially sea turtles) have photoreceptor cells that can distinguish even ultraviolet light, and it has been confirmed that they react to the colors red, yellow, and blue. Behavior such as tracking colorful paintings or photographs with their eyes has also been observed, suggesting that they may react to art with strong colors.
● Horse
Studies have shown that horses can read human facial expressions from still images, and they exhibit reactions such as focusing their left eye on photos of angry faces and an increase in heart rate. Furthermore, it has been reported that they have the ability to remember expressions they have seen in the past and change their reactions accordingly. It is believed that they have the ability to "read" emotions even from still images.
What reactions do animals show?
According to research and observational reports, animals exhibit a variety of reactions to pictures and photographs.
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Chimpanzees can recognize themselves in a mirror, and may also show interest in pictures of other chimpanzees. They are particularly interested in those with facial expressions.
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Cats are sensitive to moving images and often react to the cats in the video, but they tend not to show interest in still images.
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Birds like parrots and crows may chirp at photos of other birds or try to approach the photos.
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Dogs sometimes bark at or wag their tails at photos of other dogs, and it seems that the posture and expression in the photo trigger this reaction.
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It has been confirmed that horses react to photos that capture human emotions, and their expressions change to show tension or relief depending on the emotion depicted.
Emotion? Or curiosity?
It is not clear whether these reactions stem from "emotion" or "mere curiosity."
For example, when a bird pecks at a photograph, it may not be recognizing it as a companion, but simply investigating it as an "object of interest." However, considering examples like horses changing their reactions to emotional expressions, there is a possibility that they may have something close to "empathy."
Enjoy "Viewing" with your pet.
There's still a lot we don't know about how animals perceive pictures and photographs. However, by observing their reactions, we might gain a glimpse into their personalities and preferences.
Next time you show your dog a picture of a dog, or your pet bird a photo of a bird, quietly observe their expressions and movements. You might be soothed or surprised by an unexpected reaction.
Personally, I think they probably feel something from art, just like we do.
You can find our animal art here.
References
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Smith, A. V., & Proops, L. (2016). Horses can recognize human facial expressions . *Biology Letters*. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26864784
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Proops, L., Grounds, K., Smith, A.V., & McComb, K. (2018). Animals remember previous emotional expressions . Current Biology.
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Kirkpatrick, MA (1999). Color vision in turtles . Copeia.
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Bekoff, M. (2002). Animal reflections . Animal Behaviour and Cognition Journal.
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Pepperberg, IM (2008). Alex & Me . HarperCollins.
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Watanabe, S. (1995). Pigeons' discrimination of paintings by Monet and Picasso . *Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior*, *63*(1), 165. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1995.63-165
