Art and Illusion – E.H. Gombrich

"There is no innocent eye."

E.H. Gombrich explores the psychology of pictorial representation. He asks why art has a history and why it took centuries for artists to learn to depict reality convincingly. He argues that artists do not just copy what they see; they rely on 'schemata' (mental formulas) that they gradually correct and refine through trial and error.

Gombrich's book is a landmark in art history and psychology. It bridges the gap between science and art, showing that the history of painting is a history of perception and the mind's active role in interpreting the visual world.