Gombrich's Posthumous Book Explores Primitivism in Western Art

Einaudi has released 'La preferenza per il primitivo' (The Preference for the Primitive), the last book by Ernst Gombrich, more than two decades after his passing. This publication delves into the rejection of elaborate styles in Western art, spanning from Plato to Picasso, in favor of ancient, primitive aesthetics. Gombrich posits that artistic regressions are essential for growth, highlighting how tribal art shaped Picasso, who acknowledged that his trip to the Trocadero inspired 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.' He connects this preference to Cicero's 'Brutus' and relates it to Quattrocento artists such as Beato Angelico and Botticelli, contrasting it with his previous works by focusing on a psychological distaste for perfection and the impact of 19th-century primitivists.