Ikonológia

Ikonológia is a branch of art history and visual studies that examines the symbolic meanings, cultural contexts, and interpretive frameworks of images, objects, and visual representations. The term originates from the Greek *eikon* (εἰκών), meaning "image," and *logos* (λόγος), meaning "study" or "reason." It was popularized by the Swiss art historian and philosopher Ernst Gombrich in his 1960 book *Art and Illusion*, though its foundations trace back to earlier scholars like Aby Warburg, who explored the psychological and cultural dimensions of visual symbols.

Ikonológia distinguishes itself from iconography, which focuses on the identification and description of subjects in art, by emphasizing the broader cultural, historical, and philosophical significance of imagery. It seeks to uncover how visual representations reflect societal values, religious beliefs, political ideologies, and individual perceptions. For instance, an ikonológical analysis might examine why a particular motif—such as a lion or a serpent—appears in diverse cultures and how its meaning shifts across time and context.

Key figures in the development of ikonológia include Aby Warburg, whose *Mnemosyne Atlas* visually mapped the transmission of classical motifs through European art, and Erwin Panofsky, who analyzed the symbolic layers of Renaissance art in works like *Studies in Iconology*. Panofsky’s three-tiered approach—natural, conventional, and symbolic—remains influential, illustrating how images convey meaning beyond their literal depiction.

Ikonológia intersects with disciplines such as anthropology, semiotics, and cultural theory, offering tools to decode visual narratives in everything from medieval manuscripts to contemporary media. Its methods involve close reading of imagery, contextual research, and interdisciplinary analysis, making it a vital framework for understanding the complex relationships between art, culture, and human thought.