The Work of Art in the Age of Google

50% zoom, Can you Identify this painting?
I read a NYT article recently about this, see it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/arts/design/07google.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1

It seems the future of art history is in google. Google's new art project allows you to zoom in and see details that one would probably not notice even if they saw a work in person. Only a limited number of museums have the google street view type of museum walkthrough, and those that do have a limited number of works that you can actually zoom into to see it in all it's glory.

This presents a few obstacles in my view. One, that this could forever alter the way of looking at and experiencing art (hence the title that refers to the Walter Benjamin essay The Work of Art In the Age of Mechanical Reproduction). And two, Why should anyone bother going to the museum if they can see the image on Google from home without the $10-20 entrance fee?

I am an art book collector, so I rarely see my favorite art in person. But, it is important to experience art in person and to recognize how it impacts you differently in a book or on a computer screen vs. how it was originally intended. This is why I think it is so important to take students on field trips.