ikonology
Ikonology is a field of study concerned with interpreting visual symbols and imagery across cultures and historical periods. It examines how icons convey meaning, how audiences read symbols, and how context shapes interpretation. In many contexts, ikonology is used as a variant spelling or regional form of iconology (and is sometimes confused with iconography). The term is related to but distinct from iconography: while iconography catalogs subjects and motifs in art, ikonology focuses on meaning-making processes and cultural significance behind those images. The lineage traces to ikonology as developed by early art historians such as Erwin Panofsky, who argued that formal analysis of images requires historical interpretation of symbols, beliefs, and social structures.
In German-language scholarship, Ikonologie is the standard term; English usage favors iconology, but ikonology may appear
Applications span art history, religious studies, design, branding, and information architecture. In digital contexts, ikonology can