Google introduces art viewing program

on Tuesday,February 01,2011 19:02

Google Street View revolutionized the way people search for directions online. Now, it will change how art enthusiasts seek out their favorite works.

Recently, Google announced that individuals will be able to view works at 17 museums around the world through its Street View technology, according to CNET. The new program has been named Art Project, and the search engine giant plans to add more works in the near future. Currently, there are more than 1,000 on display. Users can view each picture at gigapixel resolution to get the full effect of seeing the piece in reality.

"You can zoom in to see Van Gogh's famous brushwork or watch how previously hard-to-see elements of an artwork suddenly become clear - such as the tiny Latin couplet which appears in Hans Holbein the Younger's, 'The Merchant Georg Gisze,'" Google said in its blog post, according to the news source.

To capture photos of the art, Google took 360-degree images of more than 385 museum rooms from around the world. Art Project may inspire others to expand upon their passion for the field and embark on careers of their own in the future.

Employment of artists is expected to increase by 12 percent over the next seven years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.