visual metaphors
Images suggesting meaning
Visual metaphors are images that represent abstract concepts by showing something concrete that shares qualities with the idea being expressed.
A light bulb stands for inspiration, a broken chain for freedom, storm clouds for trouble ahead.
Unlike verbal metaphors, these work through sight rather than language, appearing in photography, film, advertising, and art: The campaign used a visual metaphor of wilting flowers to represent neglected communities.
- symbolismRepresenting concepts through images
- scales of justiceSymbol of fair judgment
- representationDepiction or likeness
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
- illustrationPicture explaining something
analogy · tip of the iceberg · graphic design · juxtaposition · light and shadow · evocative · archetype · mind's eye · mental imagery · broken mirror · iconography · semiotics · allegory · road less traveled · advertising · abstraction · montage · perception
- dreamsnightmare, dreaming, daydream, nightmares, dreams
- comic artcomic, comics, comic book, cartoon, manga
- symbolssymbols, runes, symbol, asterisks, national symbol
- descriptive writingdescription, descriptive writing, imagery, sensory details, word picture
- emblemsemblems, emblem, crests, badge, seal
- surrealismdreamscapes, Rene Magritte, Max Ernst, automatic writing, automatism
visual metaphorsdocumentary photography
Images recording real events
technical drawings · photorealism · schematic diagrams · blueprints · labeled diagrams
visual metaphorsphotographic evidence
Images substantiating facts
raw footage · surveillance footage · data visualization · infographics