The Pleasure of Patterns in Art

The article, adapted from Samuel Jay Keyser's book "Play It Again, Sam," explores how repetition and variation are central to human perception of structure, rhythm, and depth in art. It delves into aesthetic pleasure derived from recognizing patterns, using examples such as Gustave Caillebotte's "Paris Street; Rainy Day," Lee Friedlander's "Albuquerque, New Mexico," Roni Horn's "Becoming a Landscape," and Ormond Gigli's "Girls in the Windows." The author analyzes the concept of "same/except" judgments and the historical notion of "parergon" to explain how visual rhymes and subtle differences enhance aesthetic enjoyment, demonstrating that recognizing order amid difference is key to the pleasure provided by these artworks.