Ernst Gombrich

Ernst Gombrich was an influential art historian and philosopher known for his insights into how we perceive and interpret art. He argued that art is a reflection of the world, shaped by cultural contexts and individual experiences. Gombrich introduced the idea of "visual schemata," suggesting that our understanding of art is guided by cognitive frameworks. He emphasized that representation in art is not a direct copy of reality (mimesis) but a selective interpretation, influenced by artistic traditions and viewer expectations. His work encouraged deeper engagement with art by focusing on the interplay between perception, context, and meaning.