iconographic

Iconographic is an adjective relating to iconography, the study and use of images and symbols to convey meaning. It derives from the Latin iconographia from Greek eikon meaning image and graphein meaning to write. In art history, iconography is the identification and interpretation of the subjects and symbolic motifs in visual works, while iconology refers more to contextual interpretation and cultural meaning. The term iconographic can describe a body of imagery associated with a particular tradition, figure, or narrative, as well as the practice of analyzing images for their symbolic content.

In practice, iconographic analysis looks for recurring motifs, attributes, and scenes used to identify figures or ideas, such as depictions of saints with distinctive symbols, deities with their emblems, or biblical narratives illustrated across manuscripts and monuments. Iconographic programs are deliberate visual plans that convey a specific religious, political, or social message through imagery. Historically, iconography has been central to Christian art, Buddhist art, and ancient Near Eastern and Egyptian imagery, enabling viewers to recognize complex ideas across generations and languages.

In modern contexts, the term can also describe imagery that relies on recognizable icons or symbols, such as pictograms or signage, and is used in design, communication, and museum labeling to ensure immediate comprehension.