Psyche and Provocation

The article argues that Austrian Expressionism, exemplified by the works in the Psyche and Provocation exhibition room at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere (The Austrian Gallery) in Vienna, provides a compelling case for studying art experience due to its emotional intensity and radical aesthetics. By integrating Walter Benjamin’s concept of aura with Eric Kandel’s insights from brain and cognitive sciences, the study explores how the experience of these artworks is shaped by their materiality, spatial context, and the viewer’s potential psychological engagement. This analysis contributes to debates on authenticity, the role of museums and the evolving nature of visitor experience in the (post-)digital age. Further, it highlights the continued relevance of Benjamin’s aura concept while integrating contemporary cognitive perspectives on art perception.