Gombrich's Theory Of Representation In Compressionist And Post-Impressionist Paintings

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Applying the Popperian account of growth of knowledge to Gombrich’s theory of representation in impressionist and post-impressionist paintings

Introducing Popper
In general, there are two focus questions that lead the Popperian account of science: firstly, Popper asks how our (scientific) knowledge grows. Secondly, Popper faces an inductive problem, as he questions how science is able to discover universal laws through singular observations (Chalmers, 1999)
Firstly, Popper criticizes classical empiricism and the observation-induction model that was developed from it. Empiricists claim that we gather knowledge through the senses. Yet, our senses deceive us at times, which makes it difficult to what extent we can be certain …show more content…

In his book Art and Illusion: A Study in the Psychology of Pictorial Representation”, Gombrich examines the history and psychology of pictorial representation, drawing on various other historians and thinkers, such as Karl popper. He seeks for a rational explanation regarding the changing styles of art. He mainly refutes the notion of art as imitation, and rather sees art as representation of reality. He uses the example of impressionist and post-impressionist painters and applies Popper’s methodology to the development of this particular …show more content…

Gombrich claims that the technique comes about through trial and error: artists attempt to make pictures life-like, and if it fails, they attempt again until the artist is satisfied with the result. He claims that artists work within artistic traditions. These traditions are the source of particular schemas or standardized images, which Gombrich considers to be analogous to a ‘trial’ (Richmond, 1994). The image that is created or the employed schema serves as a trial, which is tested for its ability to create an illusion of life-like objects. This is analogous to an attempt of discovering error. The artist should look critically at his or her attempt, and see whether it matches the expectations of a realistic illusion. This critical attitude is a read thread throughout Popper’s method, hence he himself calls it the critical method (Popper,

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