iconography
Art's symbolic language
Iconography is the visual imagery and symbols associated with a particular subject, tradition, or cultural context.
Art historians study the iconography of religious paintings—the halos, gestures, and objects that identify saints and convey meaning.
More broadly, iconography refers to any system of representative images: the iconography of punk rock, political iconography.
The term also covers the scholarly study of such imagery and its interpretation.
Worthy of reverence
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- crossPass from side to side
- crescentCurved sickle-like arc
- mandalaCircular spiritual diagram
lotus · altar · saints · martyrs · angels · triptych · fresco · mosaic
Representational sign or device
- motifRecurring thematic element
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
- metaphorImplied identity comparison
totem · semiotics · representation · connotation · significance · figurative · personification · allusion
Artistic depiction of someone
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- renaissancePeriod of renewed vitality
- temperaEgg-yolk painting method
panel · altarpiece · diptych · triptych · miniature · illumination · fresco · mosaic
Spiritual clan symbol
- mandalaCircular spiritual diagram
- ankhLooped Egyptian vitality symbol
- hamsaPalm-shaped protective amulet
- omHindu meditative chant
dreamcatcher · scarab · thunderbird · dragon · phoenix · lotus · triskelion · ouroboros
sacred
Worthy of reverence
mandala · lotus · altar · saints · martyrs · angels · triptych · fresco · mosaic · thangka
emblem
Representational sign or device
- motifRecurring thematic element
- archetypeOriginal model for copies
- allegorySymbolic tale with deeper meaning
metaphor · totem · semiotics · representation · connotation · significance · figurative · personification · allusion · synecdoche
portrait
Artistic depiction of someone
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- medievalOf the Middle Ages
- renaissancePeriod of renewed vitality
tempera · panel · altarpiece · diptych · triptych · miniature · illumination · fresco · mosaic · woodcut
totem
Spiritual clan symbol
- mandalaCircular spiritual diagram
- ankhLooped Egyptian vitality symbol
- hamsaPalm-shaped protective amulet
om · dreamcatcher · scarab · thunderbird · dragon · phoenix · lotus · triskelion · ouroboros · caduceus
logo
Company identifying symbol
emblem · tagline · design · typography · graphics · packaging · recognition · wordmark · logotype · monogram
emoji
Digital pictograph for messaging
thumbnail · button · interface · pixel · vector · app · desktop · folder · cursor · toolbar
- Georgian HeritageSaint George, fortresses, citadels, basilicas, monasticism
- illuminationillumination, illuminated manuscripts, illuminators, historiated initials, miniature
- artfine art, Renaissance, painters, masterpieces, paint
- artsartist, creativity, expression, songs, painting
- culturemusic taste, beliefs, food preferences, custom, festivals
- designdesign principles, functionality, emphasis, unity, typography
iconographyabstract art
Visual work avoiding depiction
iconographyformalism
Privileging structure over substance
- religious iconographySpiritual images and symbols
- Christian iconographyReligious artistic visual language