Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com
Summary:
Considered a great classic by all who seek for a meeting ground between science and the humanities, Art and Illusion examines the history and psychology of pictorial representation in light of present-day theories of visual perception information and learning. Searching for a rational explanation of the changing styles of art, Gombrich reexamines many ideas on the imitation of nature and the function of tradition. In testing his arguments he ranges over the history of art, noticing particularly the accomplishments of the ancient Greeks, and the visual discoveries of such masters as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt, as well as the impressionists and the cubists. Gombrich's triumph in Art and Illusion arises from the fact that his main concern is less with the artists than with ourselves, the beholders.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Imperfect printing of an important work
Customer Rating:
Great text, but in this printing the illustrations appear poorly printed (they are pale), especially noticeable when compared with those of an older edition. Perhaps the quality of illustrations is peculiar to my copy, but the reproductions seem consistently light.
It will teach you understanding for the visual language
Customer Rating:
A great book, it is a bit long but filled with information, so take your time when reading and prepared yourselve for an epiphany
Art and Illusion review by artist/filmmaker
Customer Rating:
Art & Illusion is an altogether brilliant text - one of the most profound discussions of fine art in the 20th century. No matter what one's field - whether painting, film, new media, performance art - it is a book both timeless and essential.
No one does it better
Customer Rating:
When asked to recommend an art book, I frequently compare art books to chemistry books or math books. These books usually assume you understand, at the minimum, the symbol for salt or the math equation to measure an area. For this book, it would help if you are familiar with the main phases of representational styles in art. For this is not a picture book, but rather reading material with explanatory pictures on the psychology of perception.
But, Dr. Gombrich wrote for the general public and nobody does it better. Having read all his books more than once, he takes you by the hand, leads you down his primrose path, and entices you by way of his poetic language; much like walking in a garden with a gardener. You may not know all the plant's latin names, but the experience is rewarding.
Fantastic book
Customer Rating:
As someone with an interest in art I found this book very interesting. However, this book is also a classic example of how a non-fiction book should be written. It flows smoothly from topic to topic, is not written on too high a level, but on the other hand does not insult your intelligence. His other book are also very good.
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