Iconography
The study of symbols and meanings in art.
What is it?
Iconography is about understanding what objects, colors, and poses mean in artworks. For example, in Christian art, a red robe can mean Jesus is a king or divine. A gold background means heaven. Angels mean God's presence. By learning iconography, you can "read" a painting like a story. The Ascension of Christ painting is full of iconography: the red robe, the gold ground, the angels, the gestures of the apostles.
Why it matters
Iconography helps you understand art more deeply. It's like a secret code that artists used to tell stories and share ideas.
Where you've seen it
This list grows as you capture more artworks with symbolic meanings.
