Chongqing Calligraphers Association Wang Guoqiang

This is the oldest theory about the origin of art, which began with ancient Greek philosophers. This theory holds that imitation is the innate nature and instinct of human beings, and art originated from human imitation of nature. In the eyes of ancient Greek philosophers, all art is the product of imitation, and so is art. Aristotle thought: "The object of artistic imitation is the real world. Art not only reflects the appearance of things, but also reflects the inherent laws and essence of things. Artistic creation relies on the ability to imitate, which is the nature and instinct that people have since childhood. " After the ancient Greek philosophers, Leonardo da Vinci, the French enlightenment thinker Diderot and the Russian writer Chernyshevski all inherited and developed this theory to varying degrees. This theory still had great influence until the end of19th century.