Journal of Art Historiography (Dec 2012)
”Art and psychoanalysis – 15 June 1988. Speakers: Professor Joseph Sandler and Professor Sir Ernst Gombrich”, part of the series “Dialogues on Contemporary Issues” hosted by the British Psycho-Analytical Society in the summer term of 1988
Abstract
The previously unpublished conversation between Ernst Gombrich and Joseph Sandler in 1988 constitutes an exciting meeting of minds in the field of art history and psychoanalysis, respectively. The two discuss ‘the artist’ as a term; the impulse inherent in the creation of art; taste; and the affective power of art, particularly in the light of the work of Freud and their shared friend, Ernst Kris. Gombrich seems both comfortable with the psychoanalytic theory they discuss, and also keen to steer the discussion in certain directions – quoting from Cicero, Van Gogh and I.E. Richards. At the point at which questions are opened up to the audience, the most interesting thing of note is the revelation that Gombrich was a member of ‘The Image Group’, which research has revealed was more accurately known as ‘The Imago Group,’ a society of psychoanalysts and dedicated analysands, of which Gombrich’s membership is unusual. As Gombrich is often considered reticent about psychoanalysis, this dialogue constitutes evidence that late in life he continued to engage in discussion about its application and interpretation in an artistic context.
