Symbolism in Art

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Symbolism in Art
What is a symbol? A symbol is an object or a
picture that stands for an idea. Love, power, and
anger are all ideas that we sometimes think of in
terms of symbols. For example, a heart can stand
for love, a lion or a sword can represent power,
and the color red or a frowning face can
symbolize anger. Many artists use symbols in
their work.
Symbol Something used to represent something
else a material object representing something,
often something immaterial.
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All cultures use symbolism to represent ideas,
from 17,000-year old Paleolithic cave art to
contemporary paintings on view today.
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Some symbols are universally understood to have a
certain meaning, but most are open to
interpretation, depending upon the context. Your
project could include a combination of
both. Think of some possible meanings for the
image on the left.
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Think of all the symbolic meanings we can give to
rope! You will want to brainstorm some ideas
for your project.
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An excellent example for understanding symbolism
in art is The Mérode Alterpiece, painted by Dutch
artist Robert Campin in1425.
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The portraits of the donors are in the left
panel. Religious art was usually funded by
wealthy patrons, so the artist included their
portraits.
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An unusual scene of Saint Joseph at work as a
carpenter occupies the right-hand panel. Hidden
symbolism lurks in this early attempt at
realistic genre painting, in which every material
object is a symbol of the spiritual. At the feet
of Joseph we see the mousetraps that Joseph has
made - one is on display outside his shop window
they are the means to catch the Devil by his
own deceptions. (When doubt was expressed that
these were really mousetraps, somebody built one
and caught a mouse.)
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The center of the little Mérode triptych shows a
homely interior in primitive, "steep"
perspective, with a seated, reading bourgeois
figure who turns out to be the Annunciate Virgin.
The Angel Gabriele has arrived to announce to
Mary that she will bear Gods child.
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In the top left corner a tiny Christ figure is
visible flying into the oculus window. This
symbolizes the immaculate conception. The brass
candlestick with its smoking candle probably
symbolizes the Virgin and Child.
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The lilies in the "Islamic" vase refer to Mary's
virginity and to the incarnation
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Your project starts with a background which will
support your theme. Whatever the template is,
you will use this background to tell your story
through symbols. The background could be a
landscape or some kind of scene. In
Resurexit, Anselm Kiefer incorporates his
symbolic narrative into the landscape. Look for a
snake, a funnel, a door, stairs, woods.all of
these images are symbolic. Once we know that he
was born in Germany during World War II, we can
begin to understand his symbolism. If the snake
represents evil, or even the Nazis, will it be
able to climb the stairs and escape? Or will it
banished to the forest forever?
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Your project starts with a background which will
support your theme. Whatever the template is,
you will use this background to tell your story
through symbols. The background could be a
landscape or some kind of scene. In
Resurexit, Anselm Kiefer incorporates his
symbolic narrative into the landscape. Look for a
snake, a funnel, a door, stairs, woods.all of
these images are symbolic. Once we know that he
was born in Germany during World War II, we can
begin to understand his symbolism. If the snake
represents evil, or even the Nazis, will it be
able to climb the stairs and escape? Or will it
banished to the forest forever?
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Student examples using symbolism Mandala
template with a theme of Paletinian/Isreali
conflict. Look for Map of Isreal Identity
Card Barbed wire Temporary houses
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Composition
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Oceanscape scene with a theme of cultural
heritage. Look for DNA strand and New York City.
The Campbells soup can represents American
culture, the eyes in the ocean represent the
students ancestors overseas.
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A project with an urban theme, representing the
students childhood in a city, and the move to
Montgomery. The upside down self portrait could
represent the upheaval of moving.
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A dramatic symbol project representing the
American Civil rights movement. Look for a snake,
fire hose, KKK hoods, and an open door with
golden light, representing the future.
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Allegory
Allegory 1. A representation of an abstract or
spiritual meaning through concrete or material
forms figurative treatment of one subject under
the guise of another. 2. A symbolical narrative
Titian's Allegory of Age Governed by Prudence,
with three human heads symbolizing age and the
triple-headed beast (dog, lion, wolf) standing
for prudence.