Art and Illusion

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic book
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating insights
Review: I spotted this book in a museum exhibit--it was related to the paintings being shown. Since the museum didn't have any copies in its bookstore, I ordered it here. If you're interested in related insights and learning to draw yourself, you should order Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and Drawing on the Artist Within, by Betty Edwards. Nina Keilin

Rating:
Summary: An extremely though-provokling and worthwhile book
Review: In this now classic work, Gombrich uses his command of the history of art to reflect deeply on how creators and viewers of illusionistic, that is representational art, do what they do. While he wrote this in the 50's, and is deficient when it comes to issues of abstract art (which is really outside his stated purview) he comes close to what might now be termed a post-structuralist view of seeing, certainly an extremely careful and sophisticated one. Old-fashiioned as some of the language is, the book remains fresh and well worth reading or re-reading. The numerous and very well-chosen illustrations are unusually well coordinated in their placement, so that the reader rarely is forced to lose her place while thumbing back and forth in search of them.