Summary

This open toolkit guides you through a simple but rich observation exercise.

This open learning manual will guide you through a very simple yet inspiring observation exercise to explore how “time” affects our perception of artworks.

Sometimes, when we think we are “looking,” we are actually just focusing on the brightest or most central part of the image, such as colors, shapes, people, and light and shadow. Real “looking” usually occurs after we stop and focus.

You will explore how time changes the way you look at an artwork.
You will compare a 5 second first impression with a 1 minute focused look.
You will see how attention shapes emotion and visual understanding.

This activity is inspired by John Berger’s Ways of Seeing (1972). He wrote:

“Seeing comes before words.”

This reminds us that vision is the start of understanding. We first see the world, then we name it, explain it, and judge it.

Through this short exercise, you will learn to look with focus and detail, put feelings into words, and notice how images can influence you.

No drawing skill is needed. No art theory is required.
You only need your eyes, a pen, a sheet of paper, and a quiet mind. ：）

Introduction

Have you ever looked at an artwork and felt something at once?
Maybe: “I love this.” “This feels strange.” “I feel something, but I cannot name it.” “I don’t get it, but I’m drawn to it.”

Have you noticed how your feeling changes when you slow down and look a bit longer?

The colours soften. The background becomes clear. New details appear. What felt unknown starts to make sense.

In daily life, our eyes move fast. We scroll. We swipe. We pass by.
In art, time is the key. Time is like light. It guides you to the hidden parts between you and the work.

This toolkit invites you to slow down. In 20 minutes, you will re-learn how to look.
You may find that art is not only on the canvas. It is also in you.

Part 1 — What is a “5 Second Impression”? (about 5 minutes)

The “5 second impression” is your instant response when you first see an artwork.
It is not planned. It comes from feeling, intuition, and memory working together.

Let’s take an example.

Imagine you’re walking into an art museum or gallery for the first time and see a huge, brightly colored painting. Your brain might immediately react as follows:
“Wow, that’s so bright.”
“This looks like a dream I had.”
“My eyes feeling hurt a little.”

You are not asking who the artist is, or what year it was made.
You are not thinking about theme or technique.
You are feeling.

Seeing vs. Knowing

Seeing is a moment of sensing. It is a body response.

Knowing is the step of thinking and explaining.

John Berger said many of us rely too much on “knowing” and forget the value of “looking.”
We rush to explain. We do not pause.

Goals of this part

1.Notice the subjectivity of first impressions.

2.Understand the role of time and attention in art experience.

3.Turn feelings into simple words.

Tips🙂
In the next steps, try not to “think”. Just “look”~.

Part 2 — Case Study:

Edward Hopper, Nighthawks (about 8 minutes)

Image source: The Art Institute of Chicago, Open Access
Work link: https://www.artic.edu/artworks/111628/nighthawks

Step 1 — Quick look (5 seconds)

Look at the painting for 5 seconds. Then look away.
Write two sentences:
“I saw …”
“I felt …”

example
“I saw bright light and an empty street.”
“I felt a quiet late night, a bit lonely.”

Don’t worry about whether it’s “correct” or not. Feelings are neither right nor wrong. Your feeling is yours. 🙂

Step 2 — Focused look (1 minute)

Now look again for 1 full minute. Scan every corner.

(Guiding questions)

Who is in the scene? What is their relation?

What happens outside the frame? Why is the street empty?

Where does the light come from? What does it reveal? What does it hide?

If you stepped into the scene, what sounds would you hear?

After 1 minute, please write:
“I noticed …”
“Now I feel …”

Example
“I noticed reflections on the glass. The street outside is very empty.”
“Now I feel the scene is cold. The people are not talking.”

Step 3 — Compare and understand

Compare your two rounds.

How did your feeling change?

What details were new to you?

How would you name this change?

You may find:
At first, the light felt warm.
Later, the people seemed isolated and silent.
Time moved you from feeling to understanding.

Further thought
Edward Hopper is known for the loneliness of the modern city.
He shows that even under strong light, people can be alone.

This painting is not only about “night”. It is about existence.
When you give time, the work may show you your own inner state.

Part 3 — Try it yourself (about 10 minutes)

Follow the same method to do your own observation experiment.
Do not rush. Do not fear “wrong answers”.
This is a practice in observing yourself.

Step 1 — Choose an artwork

Pick any artwork，

e.g. MoMA Open Access，,The Art Institute of Chicago 

Choose one work you like. It can be painting, photo, sculpture, or installation.
Clear visuals are easier for this task.

Step 2 — First look (5 seconds)

Set a timer. Look for 5 seconds only.
Then close the page or cover the image.

Answer:
What did I see at first glance?
What did I feel?

Please write 2 sentences.
e.g.
“I saw a strong colour field in the background.”
“I felt chaos and force.”

Step 3 — Second look (1 minute)

Open the image again. Set a 1 minute timer. Look slowly.

Guiding prompts

What did I miss before?

What is special about light or composition?

Did my emotion change?

What does this work want me to “see”?

Please write 3 sentences.

Example
“I saw repeated shapes in the back.”
“The direction of light makes the scene feel like it flows.”
“Now I feel rhythm, not only chaos.”

Step 4 — Compare and conclude

Read your two rounds together.
Answer:

What changed between round one and round two?

What is new?

What does this change suggest?

Please write 3–4 sentence summary:
“My first impression was …”
“After looking again, I found …”
“My feeling changed from … to …”
“I learned …”

Step 5 — Share and discuss (optional)

You can invite a friend to try the same steps with the same artwork.
Compare your “first impressions” and “second looks”.
Different people often see very different things.
You may realise:
Art is never fixed. It is always reseen.

Part 4 — Reflection and extension (about 5 minutes)

Take a short pause. Think about your process.

Was your first look too fast?

Did details surprise you?

Do you tend to notice only what feels familiar?

Please write reflection.

It can be a discovery or a question.
“I often ignore the background.”
“I now see why art needs slow looking.”

Extension (optional)

Try works in different styles (abstract, figurative, photography). Compare first impressions.

Share your notes online. Credit the open source.

Join a group, “swap” artworks. Describe what the other person saw.

References & Open Sources

Berger, John (1972). Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin Books.
The Art Institute of Chicago (2018). Open Access Images.
Available at: https://www.artic.edu/

Total time: about 20 minutes

Part 1: 5 minutes

Part 2: 8 minutes

Part 3: 10 minutes

Part 4: 5 minutes

(You can print this as a one-page guide or use it on a phone. Keep a pen and paper ready.)

5 Second Impression © 2025 by TONG LIU is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

(Edward Hopper (American, 1882–1967))

(Edward Hopper (American, 1882–1967))