noun · academic
iconography
UK/ˌaɪkəˈnɒɡrəfi/US/ˌaɪkəˈnɑːɡrəfi/i·con·OG·ra·phy
the study or use of images and symbols in art and what they mean
Examples
“The lecture covered Christian iconography in medieval manuscripts.”
“She analysed the film's iconography to understand its political message.”
“Textbooks on art history often include chapters on iconography.”
Band 8 sentence
“In my dissertation I trace the iconography of colonial monuments to reveal how public symbols legitimise power.”
Collocations
- religious iconography
- study iconography
- iconographic motifs
Word family
Common mistakes
iconic→iconography
image study→iconography
iconography of Vietnam→iconography of Vietnamese art
Say it for a higher band
5imagery→6symbolism→7+iconography
Synonyms
imagery
symbolism
Easily confused
iconic
“The director used iconic imagery, but the film's iconography was much more complex.”
Related words
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In Art & Culture
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