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Comment on Dr. Simenauer's Paper. Nils Haak. Pp. 436-437.
Simenauer points out that the same relatively rare events in nature that strike man as beautiful—pure color, rhythmic movement—are used as releasing mechanisms in lower animals for courting and mating. Chimpanzees and apes take pleasure in rudimentary picture composition independent of any external reward. One male chimpanzee was seen to show sexual excitement during composition. These facts, along with others such as that lower primates lose interest in finger painting when grown and engaging in sexual activity, suggest that Freud's thesis that beauty has its roots in sexual excitement is correct. They also throw light on the wide current interest in abstract painting.
Haak points out that Simenauer's attempts to shed new light on æsthetic experience by applying ethological findings are interesting and laudable but insufficiently documented. He hopes Simenauer will continue his studies on a larger scale.