Which one of the following statements is true for the veiwers eye?

Question

It should travel in one side of the artwork and out the other?

It should be directed toward the center of interest?

As it moves toward the center of interest, it should have several interesting objects to stop and study?

It should land on the point of interest first and then travel toward the secondary areas of interest?

Answer 1

I'm struggling hard with whether "should" is the correct word!
The viewer's eye is free to do what if d**n well pleases.

It seems likely in a composed work of art that a major, striking, feature will catch the eye first and that the rest of the piece will be assessed as secondary to that reference point. That may or may not be what the artist had in mind.

A subtle artist may have not spotlighted the significant, but left it to emerge, for an observant observer.

Answer 2

Depends on the culture and the person producing the artwork.

Many Japanese works during the 1800s traveled in a spiral from the point of interest towards the outside.

Most classical Western pieces, pre 1900s, had the central point of interest surrounded by secondary points.
Though, a great exception is Hieronymus Bosch, he was all over the map with Renaissance symbolism gone mad.

Post 1900s -- esp. post 1950, the entire piece is to be taken in account as one whole. Look for examples by Warhol, Pollack, Mondrian, Rothko, Stella to name a few.
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Answer 3

I think it depends on what you are trying to portray with your art. I tend to use the second "it should be directed toward the center of interest" more. The third option could be considered as well.

Answer 4

I would say option 2 is the best, followed by option 3.
Option 4 could work but generally that's too obvious for me, too "in your face" you know?
Option 1 is definitely NOT it! What a weird notion...