diptych

A diptych is a work of art consisting of two panels connected by a hinge so that they are viewed together as a single image when open. The term comes from the Greek di- meaning two and ptychē meaning folding or turning. The form has been used across cultures and periods for both portable, personal objects and larger, ceremonial pieces.

Diptychs are typically made as carved or painted panels on materials such as wood or ivory, and sometimes metal. They may be designed to be carried, gifted, or used in devotion. The exterior surfaces can be restrained or plain, while the interior surfaces reveal more elaborate imagery. In some instances, the two panels present complementary or contrasting scenes, inviting a dialogue between them when opened.

Historically, diptychs appear in the ancient world and remain common into Late Antiquity and the Byzantine era, where they were used for commemorative, devotional, and liturgical purposes. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, portable diptychs served as private devotional aids, portraits, or tokens of affiliation, and they were frequently exchanged as gifts or tokens of status. The format also influenced related polyptychs and helped scholars study the relationship between paired scenes or donor portraits.

Notable aspects of diptychs include the interplay between the two connected panels and the way hinge mechanics shape viewing. In modern times, the diptych has been adopted in photography and contemporary painting to explore pairs of images, contrasts, and dialogue between separate but linked surfaces.