Art and Illusion, 6th edn: A Study in the Psychology of Pictorial Representation: 0000 - Softcover

E. H. Gombrich

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714842087 ISBN 13: 9780714842080

Publisher: Phaidon, 2004

Synopsis

Ground-breaking and wide-ranging exploration of the history and psychology of pictorial representation, revealing that it is far from being a straightforward matter

About this title

Review:

"This was a seminal book and remains an enjoyable unfolding of the mysteries of art."―The Times

"I shall remember about it is the author's warmth and wit, the fabulous range of his references and the richness of personality that lies behind the whole performance."―The New York Times

"...It brought the topic of the visual back to the centre of the history of the visual arts, from where it had been strangely displaced."―The Economist

Synopsis:

"Art and Illusion" is a classic study of image-making. It seeks to answer a simple question: why is there such a thing as style? The question may be simple but there is no easy answer, and Professor Gombrich's wide-ranging exploration of the history and psychology of pictorial representation leads him into many important areas. He examines, questions and re-evaluates old and new ideas on the imitation of nature, the function of tradition, the problem of abstraction, the validity of perspective and the interpretation of expression, all of which reveal that pictorial representation is far from being a straightforward matter. First published in the 1960s, the text applies the findings of experimental science to the understanding of art and in tackling complex ideas and theoretical issues, Gombrich is rigorous; yet he always retains a sense of wonder at the inexhaustible capacity of the human brain, and at the subtlety of the relationships involved in seeing the world and in making and seeing art. With deep knowledge and his exceptional gift for clear exposition, he advances arguments as hypotheses to be tested.

The problems of representation are fundamental to the history of art and this volume should be a crucial text for anyone interested in understanding art. For the 6th edition Professor Gombrich wrote a 12-page preface in which he makes use of the distinction between an image and a sign in order to clarify his intentions in writing the book.

About this edition

• Publisher: Phaidon
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0714842087
• ISBN 13: 9780714842080
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 6
• Number of pages: 418