iconography
noun
Did you know?
If you saw a 17th-century painting of a man writing at a desk with a lion at his feet, would you know you were looking at St. Jerome, translator of the Bible, who, according to legend, once pulled a thorn from the paw of a lion, which thereafter became his devoted friend? And if a painting showed a young woman reclining on a bed with a shower of gold descending on her, would you recognize her as Danaë, locked up in a tower to keep her away from the lustful Zeus, who then managed to gain access to her by transforming himself into golden light (or golden coins)? An iconographic approach to art can make museum-going a lot of fun—and amateur iconographers know there are also plenty of symbols lurking in the images that advertisers bombard us with daily.
Examples of iconography in a Sentence
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
The museum is home to photo-ready rooster ceramics, which pay homage to the city’s Chinese immigrants, who brought chicken iconography to the area in the 20th century.
—Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 18 Feb. 2025
Much like Lamar, she and her backup dancers performed in pure Americana fashion—all-white cowboy attire—and used American iconography to reclaim Black history.
—Alexandra Polk, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025
His use of magazine covers, and fashion photography from brands like Balenciaga and Prada as canvases, exploring the fusion of nostalgia and iconography, transforming pop imagery into art that resonates across generations.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for iconography
Cite this Entry
“Iconography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/iconography. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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