This insightful book explores the complex interplay between seeing and knowing in the visual arts, tracing the evolution of artistic conventions across diverse cultures and historical periods. The author delves into the ways in which artists have reconciled what the eye perceives with pre-existing knowledge and cultural norms, analyzing how these conventions have shaped the representation of the human form and landscape. From Paleolithic cave paintings to modern abstraction, this book examines various artistic traditions—Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Greek, and European—highlighting the enduring power of established representational techniques. The analysis includes a detailed exploration of how the depiction of the human nude has evolved, and how landscape painting transitioned from rudimentary forms to complex, emotionally evocative scenes. This profound study challenges conventional views of artistic representation, revealing how 'seeing' is inextricably linked to learned interpretation, and ultimately providing a rich understanding of the historical development and cultural significance of visual art.