Quote for today from E H Gombrich--Austrian Art Historian and Humanist

I first stumbled upon Austrian writer E H Gombrich's (1909-2001) work in a Barnes and Noble outlet, namely his Little History of The World, which is a beautifully written historic overview intended for a young people. His historical view is particularly humanistic. I would highly recommend this book for any young boy or girl as a great introduction to history. It is very readable; I am almost reminded of a grandfather with his grandchildren on his lap telling stories from bygone days. From what I understand, the Nazis were not big fans of Gombrich and I can certainly see why. I recently sent a copy of this book to my 8 year old niece.

Mensch

Only recently did I discover that Gombrich is mainly known as an Art Historian. His book The History of Art, is considered by many people to be the best introductory book on Art ever written. I have just started to read it, but I was struck by something I read in the introduction which I feel the need to share. I feel like we both have a very similar perspective about art. I really like where this guy is coming from. He is definitely an art populist, and in the best of possible ways. He is not trying to "civilize" people, but just feels that art is for everyone, and it is something that anyone can appreciate because in a lot of ways it is already part of everyone's lives. And in a more general sense his opinions apply the world in a more general sense. Here's his quote.

One never finishes learning about art. There are always new things to discover. Great works of art seem to look different every time one stands before them. They seem to be as inexhaustible and unpredictable as real human beings. It is an exciting world of its own with its own strange laws and its own adventures. Nobody should think he knows all about it, for nobody does. Nothing, perhaps, is more important than just this: that to enjoy these works we must have a fresh mind, one which is ready to catch every hint and to respond to every hidden harmony: a mind, most of all, not cluttered up with long high-sounding word and ready-made phrases. It is infinitely better not to know anything about art than to have the kind of half-knowledge which makes for snobbishness. The danger is very real. There are people, for instance, who have picked up the simple points I have tried to make in this chapter, and who understand that there are great works of art which have none of the obvious qualities of beauty of expression or correct draughtsmanship, but who become so proud of their knowledge that they pretend to like only those works which are neither beautiful nor correctly drawn. They are always haunted by the fear that they might be considered uneducated if they confessed to liking a work which seems too obviously pleasant or moving. They end by being snobs who lose their true enjoyment of art and who call everything "very interesting" which they really find somewhat repulsive. I should hate to be responsible for any similar misunderstanding. I would rather not be believed at all than be believed in such an uncritical way.

I like the way Gombrich thinks. He also mentions that some people go into a museum and check the works of art off of a checklist instead of looking at the art through your own perspective. This sort of behavior would lead an individual to bypass great things that might not appear on someone else's list. He is of the same school as me: keep an open mind, view things with a fresh perspective. And this applies to music also--who knows? Maybe the next Daydream Nation, O.K. Computer, or London Calling might be created by a band from Tallinn, or Jakarta, or Johannesburg. The real question is, will you hear it? Or will you be part of the herd?