The word icon has its origion from the Greek word ei�k�n, and in its essence, means picture. When speaking of religious icons the meaning reaches way beyond just being a picture or portrait of religious events or people. The icon is a proclamation in form, color and beauty. The icon is a window; through which man sees into the beauty and glory of the holy kingdom, and the shine of eternity. The purpose of the icon is not to show time and place, but to illuminate and illustrate a timeless world.
The antecedent to the religious icon is believed to be the Egyptian mummy portraits, which arround the time of the birth of Christ, were painted on thin wood panels that would cover the face of the deceased.
Legend has it, that the first actual icon ever made, was portraying Virgin Mary. Allegedly, the evangelist Luke painted the icon, after they had both been in Taurus, by the coast of Asia Minor.
The traditional icons are made, following strict rules for the use of motives as well as color, and it is less important who actually made the icon. From a technical standpoint, writing icons is much the same as, and requires the same set of skills as any other "fine-art" discipline, however the art of writing traditional icons is at its core a spiritual discipline.
Unlike the traditional icons, the modern icons have no rules and guidelines, and therefore can be compared to any other piece of art, where the artist behind the work has a story to tell. |
