A classic study of image-making, this text seeks to answer a simple question: why is there such a thing as style? Professor Gombrich's exploration of the history and psychology of pictorial representation leads him to examine, question and re-evaluate old and new ideas.

The problems of representation are fundamental to the history of art and this volume should be a crucial text for anyone interested in understanding art. For the 6th edition Professor Gombrich wrote a 12-page preface in which he makes use of the distinction between an image and a sign in order to clarify his intentions in writing the book.