Ordinarily, people seek to avoid sadness, he says. "But in aesthetics and in art we actively seek it out." Artists have exploited this seemingly paradoxical behavior for centuries. In the 1800s ...

Across two studies, people reported feeling both sadness and pleasure when viewing emotionally difficult art. These feelings were closely tied to a sense of being moved and finding the experience ...

People seek out art and music that combine sadness and beauty. Scientists and artists say there's good reason why we're drawn to it. Why beautiful sadness — in music, in art — evokes a special ...