Symbolism & Iconography in Art

There is no such thing as chance; and what seem to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny.

- Friedrich Schiller

Symbolism

Symbolism studies individual objects that are animal, plant, or inanimate object. Symbols can have personal or political meanings and can represent the same thing to many people. An easy example would be an umbrella; we all know it keeps us dry from rain, and symbolically this can signify a degree of protection from outside forces. When looking at symbols, I will always go for obvious meanings rather than something that needs a complete suspension of logic. My personal interpretation is how I pull the threads together to weave the story. It does not mean I think that’s what the artist is saying exactly; there are likely elements that don’t fit for them, or nuance could be missing. And that’s before we get to the matter of me inserting my own inner mythology into an interpretation. I try to keep my work clean and make it clear when I’m being personal, but I am human and sometimes don’t catch it until a later edit. I must point out that any interpretations I do are from a very English standpoint, although I will occasionally include meanings from elsewhere if I am aware of them.

Iconography

Iconography is a collection or group of symbols that have dedicated meanings not always apparent to the viewer. Artists can develop their own complex system, but sometimes they use the iconography of a previously established system. An example here would be the iconography associated with the Christian faith. Symbols such as bread and wine, the lamb, the dove, various crosses, and hands held in prayer are prolific in old paintings. Each of these objects helped to create a hidden narrative in the artwork.

To a lesser extent, this blog may cover iconography from time to time. It tends to happen inadvertently when I like an individual artist's work. An example from this blog would likely include the art of Kasia Derwinska. It is easy to see how Kasia has themes running through her work, and she will often use pieces of imagery more than once. Having followed her for a few years, I know she is philosophically minded and fully intends to be able to bridge the gap between the seen and unseen with her work.

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Sometimes I will feel a picture personally; at other times, I might look closer because I think it’s a great example of a specific emotion or scenario. I have no method here; I’ll write about it if I like it.

Within art history, symbolism and iconography is an established field of study. I am unlikely to cover any historically significant piece of artwork because i) this is not an academic discipline for me, and ii) I prefer to look at the work of living artists.

Art is, of course, incredibly subjective. Some artists use objects that have significant personal meaning in their work, and others don’t give it much thought. Some are conscious of the message they want to convey, whereas many artists go for what looks good. Nobody is adhering to fixed rules here.

One of the more significant reasons I keep trying to fire up this blog is that I love art. I’d be happy if it encouraged anyone to look at an image a little longer. It’s not just soul food; it’s an opportunity to experience a sense of connection. Sometimes, there are no words, and art can fill that uncomfortable void when you desperately try to articulate a disturbing emotion and fail. For me, to find meaning in something is to make it meaningful, and that’s the stuff that keeps the inner fire burning.

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