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Classics

The Necessity of Art by Ernst Fischer

Karzan Aziz Mahmood looks at Ernst Fischer’s advocacy of art.

In his classic work The Necessity of Art (1963), Ernst Fischer asserted that art is indispensable to experience. This perspective stemmed from his belief that humans need to transcend the confines of their individuality and find themselves within the collective. Fischer explores the idea that art fulfills the fundamental human need to reach beyond the self, to connect with others, and to experience a sense of wholeness that transcends individual limitations. He argues that the individual is driven by a desire to move towards fullness and universality, never content to remain merely himself. Through art, the individual experiences not only his own potential but also the energies and experiences of others.

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