Art, Perception, and Reality

by E. H. Gombrich, Julian Hochberg, Max Black

Overview

In Art, Perception, and Reality three eminent scholars explore questions relating to the nature of representation in art. Art historian E. H. Gombrich asks how we recognize likeness—in portraits or caricatures for instance—and concludes that we do so by empathy. Psychologist Julian Hochberg rejects Gombrich's argument, suggesting instead that the expectations aroused in the scanning processes of visual perception account for recognition of likeness. Finally, philosopher Max black argues that no criteria have been established for defining conditions of representation and concludes that representation is a "cluster concept."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801815522
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	09/01/1973
Series:	Thalheimer Lectures , #1970
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

E. H. Gombrich is director emeritus of the Warburg Institute at the University of London.

Julian Hochberg is professor of psychology at Columbia University.

Max Black was Susan Linn Sage Professor of Philosophy and Humane Letters at Cornell University.

Table of Contents

Preface
Part I. The Mask and the Face: The Perception of Physiognomic Likeness in Life and in Art
Part II. The Representation of Things and People
Part III. How do Pictures Represent?
Postscript
Index

Editorial Reviews

The approach of the book is very original because it presents itself as the interdisiplinary convergance of three adopted points of view, respectively, the history of art, the psychology, and the philosophy.
—Pierre Somville, Revue Philosophique

Bringing together essays by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher, is an important event, for it marks a growing interest in the suggestive but very problematic relation between our experience of art and our perception of the visual world.
—Mark Sagoff, Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism

Power to provoke thought.
—Michael Rosenthal, Art, Perception, and Reality

Stimulating and erudite. It considers the problem of likeness between a portrait and the sitter, and the role of empathy, a much neglected aspect in the nature of creating art.
—J.B.Deregowski, New Society

This useful book contains three significant essays on the subject by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher. Hochberg's theoretical demolition of the theory of empathy in relation to viewing art objects is of exceptional value.
—Peter Fuller, Arts Review

The great achievement of this book is that it broadens the reader's perspective on the problems of representation, whatever disipline the reader considers his own. From that broadened perspective is likely to come more fruitful consideration of this set of problems.
—Lorraine A. Ozar, The Modern Schoolman

Three informed opinions on the classical question of representation . . . Provocative.
—Art Journal

From the Publisher

The great achievement of this book is that it broadens the reader's perspective on the problems of representation, whatever disipline the reader considers his own. From that broadened perspective is likely to come more fruitful consideration of this set of problems.

The Modern Schoolman - Lorraine A. Ozar

This useful book contains three significant essays on the subject by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher. Hochberg's theoretical demolition of the theory of empathy in relation to viewing art objects is of exceptional value.

Arts Review - Peter Fuller

The approach of the book is very original because it presents itself as the interdisiplinary convergance of three adopted points of view, respectively, the history of art, the psychology, and the philosophy.

Revue Philosophique - Pierre Somville

Three informed opinions on the classical question of representation . . . Provocative.

Art Journal

Bringing together essays by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher, is an important event, for it marks a growing interest in the suggestive but very problematic relation between our experience of art and our perception of the visual world.

Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism - Mark Sagoff

Power to provoke thought.

Art, Perception, and Reality - Michael Rosenthal

Stimulating and erudite. It considers the problem of likeness between a portrait and the sitter, and the role of empathy, a much neglected aspect in the nature of creating art.

New Society - J.B.Deregowski

The great achievement of this book is that it broadens the reader's perspective on the problems of representation, whatever disipline the reader considers his own. From that broadened perspective is likely to come more fruitful consideration of this set of problems.

— Lorraine A. Ozar

The Modern Schoolman

Stimulating and erudite. It considers the problem of likeness between a portrait and the sitter, and the role of empathy, a much neglected aspect in the nature of creating art.

— J.B.Deregowski

New Society

This useful book contains three significant essays on the subject by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher. Hochberg's theoretical demolition of the theory of empathy in relation to viewing art objects is of exceptional value.

— Peter Fuller

Arts Review

The approach of the book is very original because it presents itself as the interdisiplinary convergance of three adopted points of view, respectively, the history of art, the psychology, and the philosophy.

— Pierre Somville

Revue Philosophique

Bringing together essays by an art historian, a psychologist, and a philosopher, is an important event, for it marks a growing interest in the suggestive but very problematic relation between our experience of art and our perception of the visual world.

— Mark Sagoff

Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism