Word
iconography
Phoneticsiconog·ra·phy
US/ˌaɪkəˈnɑɡɹəfi/
UK/ˌaɪkənˈɒɡɹəfi/
Definition
n. the study of symbols and images used in a specific culture or time period. It also refers to the collection of these symbols and images themselves.
n. the study of symbols and images used in a particular culture, religion, or historical period. It can also refer to the specific set of images or symbols associated with a particular subject or person.
Examples
“The iconography of the cathedral includes many religious symbols.”
“Art historians often study the iconography of ancient pottery to understand the beliefs of the people who made it.”
“The film's visual iconography draws heavily from the noir genre, using deep shadows and stark lighting to create a sense of moral ambiguity.”
Examples
simple
“The iconography of the cathedral includes many religious symbols.”
contextual
“Art historians often study the iconography of ancient pottery to understand the beliefs of the people who made it.”
complex
“The film's visual iconography draws heavily from the noir genre, using deep shadows and stark lighting to create a sense of moral ambiguity.”
Real-World Examples
“Her visibility made her iconic, but iconography can flatten as easily as it elevates.” “The Power in Storage: Samurai Masks and Helmets series drew on Japanese iconography to portray warriors.” Etymology
From icono- + -graphy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/iconography