iconen

Iconen is the Dutch plural of icoon, meaning an image, symbol, or emblem. The term covers both traditional religious images and modern graphical representations used in computing and media. The word derives from Greek eikon, through Latin icona, indicating an image or likeness.

In religious contexts, iconen refers to icons in Christian iconography, especially within Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic traditions. These small painted or mosaic images depict sacred figures and events and are used in devotion, liturgy, and iconography workshops. Iconen are often placed on iconshelves or in churches in iconostases, and they are treated with specific rites and reverence, reflecting doctrines about representation and veneration.

In contemporary usage, iconen denotes graphical symbols in user interfaces and software. Computer icons are small images that convey the function, file type, or program they represent, enabling quick recognition and interaction. Icons may be raster or vector-based, and they follow design conventions for clarity, scalability, and accessibility. Beyond computing, the term also appears in popular culture to describe stylized symbols or logos.

In Dutch, iconen thus spans a range of meanings from sacred images to everyday digital symbols, illustrating how a single word can cover both art historical concepts and practical technological elements.