Whether or not history can be called an art depends on the perspective from which you’re looking at it.
If we view history purely as the study and analysis of facts and events, then it is mainly based on investigation, evidence, documentation, and real occurrences. In this sense, history is a part of social science or the humanities, where logic, proof, and objectivity are essential.
But on the other hand—
From the perspective of how history is written, the style of narration, and the role of interpretation, it also becomes an art. When a historian brings the past to life like a story, analyzes characters, and adds emotion and depth, they are using the tools of art. In that sense, history becomes the art of interpretation.
Many literary figures and historians such as:
- Herodotus – known as the “Father of History,” whose writing is poetic and narrative-driven,
- and thinkers like Edward Said and Hayden White – have argued that constructing a historical narrative is an act of imagination, much like literature or art.
In short:
- The facts and analysis in history make it a science.
- The interpretation and storytelling in history make it an art.