Processes underlying aesthetic appreciation were investigated. Based on the hedonic fluency model, we assumed content accessibility, clarity, and beauty were associated with processing fluency and affected preference rating .According to the inconsistent results of previous studies, we attempted to explore the processing stages of aesthetic perception and aesthetic judgment. Using the explicit classification paradigm, in Experiment 1 we measured the time needed to recognize cubist art works of different classes of content accessibility, clarity, and beauty. And in Experiment 2 subjects were asked to evaluate all pictures presented in Experiment 1. The results demonstrate higher content accessibility, clarity, and beauty are associated with higher processing fluency. Content accessibility and beauty have positive correlation with preference rating. Higher processing fluency was associated with higher evaluation. In addition, the more beautiful the art work is the more processing fluency it owns. A gist is formed and used as criteria of classification during the initial stage of aesthetic appreciation. And the processing fluency of gist formation contributes to aesthetic evaluation.