<P> The psychology of art is an interdisciplinary field that studies the perception, cognition and characteristics of art and its production . For the use of art materials as a form of psychotherapy, see art therapy . The psychology of art is related to architectural psychology and environmental psychology . </P> <P> The work of Theodor Lipps, a Munich - based research psychologist, played an important role in the early development of the concept of art psychology in the early decade of the twentieth century . His most important contribution in this respect was his attempt to theorize the question of Einfuehlung or "empathy", a term that was to become a key element in many subsequent theories of art psychology . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Mona Lisa </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Artist </Th> <Td> Leonardo da Vinci </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Subject </Th> <Td> Possibly Leonardo's mother Caterina in a distant memory . This theory is based on the psychology of art . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Mona Lisa </Th> </Tr>

Western arts aesthetic has generally had a preference for