Johann Michel's Hermeneutic-pragmatist Approach to Interpreting Visual Works of Art

This paper examines some of Johann Michel’s contributions to hermeneutics, with an emphasis on interpretation as a resolution for “problems of meaning”, utilizing specific techniques in both erudite activity and everyday life. Based on Michel’s goal of transforming hermeneutics along pragmatist lines, this paper focuses on discussing the limits of the textual model of hermeneutics and Michel’s proposal to broaden hermeneutics through a pragmatic approach to interpretation, which aims to move beyond texts and towards visual works of art. The assumption is made here that hermeneutics is not limited to the “text”. Although we can reject this limitation, part of hermeneutics emphasizes this notion and the dominance of language over image. This failure to recognize the visual image would make it difficult for hermeneutics to participate in the debate on images and works of art.