Iconography
Iconography refers to the visual images and symbols used in a work of art.
The term ‘iconography’ is derived from the Greek word ‘ikon’, which means image. Originally, an icon was a picture of Christ on a panel used for devotion in the Orthodox Greek Church, dating back to at least the seventh century. As a result, the term "icon" has come to be associated with any object or image that is remarkable or holds a special significance.
Iconography refers to a specific system of images or types used by artists to convey particular meanings. For instance, in Christian religious painting, there is an iconography of symbols such as the lamb, representing Christ, or the dove, symbolising the Holy Spirit. In classical mythology, the presence of a dove might indicate the presence of the goddess Aphrodite or Venus, illustrating how the meanings of specific images can be context-dependent.
17 result found for "Iconography"
Magdalena Suarez Frimkess
Discover seven spellbinding decades of mischievous cartoon ceramics by Venezuelan artist Magdalena Suarez Frimkess.
Ibrahim El-Salahi
Ibrahim El-Salahi’s mesmerising paintings represent the dream of postcolonial Sudan. His prison drawings expose the nightmare hidden beneath.
Danielle Mckinney – Soul & Solace
Paintings by Danielle Mckinney articulate the soul through its ritual comforts, making the interior lives of Black women visible. We set out to capture the feeling in words, and with a community playlist.
Meet the artists shaping the future of tarot
The humble yet powerful tarot card has inspired artists for centuries. Today, tarot is more popular than ever, so we take a look at its long history and the creatives celebrating it now. Along the way, we speak to two of our favourite artists and tarot creators, Claire Yurika Davis and Marcella Kroll.
How to collect art
So, you're an art lover. Either you buy art, or you'd like to – but where to channel this passion? You're in the right place. This guide covers everything you need to kickstart, develop and deepen a collection.
Gregory Crewdson – 25 years of Twilight
On the 25th anniversary of landmark series Twilight, revisit Gregory Crewdson's supernatural vision of suburbia and collect a trio of limited edition photographic prints.
Curated by Aindrea Emelife: We Are History
Art historian, writer and curator Aindrea Emelife introduces hand-finished editions from Shannon Bono, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones and Sola Olulode.
Miwa Komatsu
Miwa Komatsu was born in Nagano, Japan in 1984. She lives and works between Nagano and Tokyo.
Jaime Muñoz
Jaime Muñoz (he/him) was born in Los Angeles, California, and currently lives and works in Pomona.
Darren Romanelli
Darren Romanelli (he/him) is a California native born in 1976, currently living and working in Los Angeles.
Michael Kagan
Michael Kagan was born in 1980 in Virginia, USA, and now lives and works in Brooklyn. He received his MFA from the New York Academy of Art in 2005.
Lu Yang
Lu Yang was born in 1984 in Shanghai, China, where they continue to live and work.
Yue Minjun
Yue Minjun was born in 1962 in Daqing, China and now lives and works in Beijing.
Tomás Sánchez
Tomás Sánchez was born in 1948 in Cuba, and is now based in Costa Rica.
Ali Banisadr
Ali Banisadr was born in 1976 in Tehran, Iran, and now lives and works in New York, USA.
Untitled [Man in Car with Shed]
With Twilight, a series of 40 elaborately-staged photographs taken between 1998 and 2002, Gregory Crewdson arrived at the epic, filmic approach which has come to define his instantly recognisable images.25 years on, three images from the series have been reprised as limited edition prints – available to order individually or as a triptych with a 10% discount.Twilight explores liminal moments in small town America. Everyday settings become paranormal as night draws and bizarre details arise. Intentionally ambiguous, each photograph resembles a climatic film noir still while eluding any concrete plot, place or character.The first print sets a car – driver dazed, door and boot wide open – in the middle of a quiet residential street. An eerie glow emanates from a shed surrounded by bushes. Lit, curtainless windows suggest onlookers, even if none can be seen.“I’m revisiting this picture on the 25th Anniversary of Twilight because, as my first street scene of this kind, it has become very important in my iconography and visual language. Its significance in the context of my larger body of work is very striking in retrospect.”
![Untitled [Man in Car with Shed]](https://a.storyblok.com/f/119968/1200x1600/d6a640123b/man-in-car-with-shed-gregory-crewdson-01.jpg/m/2340x0 "Untitled [Man in Car with Shed]")
Glass Vase
Antiquity and life under capitalism coalesce in an edition of glass vases by Ai Weiwei.Traditional Chinese ceramics have appeared in Ai’s work on numerous occasions, most notably in 1995 when he dropped (and smashed) a priceless Han Dynasty urn on camera. The artist has also adorned similarly-irreplicable urns in paint with the iconic Coca-Cola logo. With such artworks Ai juxtaposes new with old, and artisanal skill with mass manufacture – questioning the value we ascribe to the objects that surround us. Cast in translucent red glass using an iron mould on Murano – a group of islands in the Venetian Lagoon renowned for glassmaking – the vase encompasses a new juncture for the artist’s ongoing reflections on iconography, repetition and commodification.
