Kostas Papaioannou and Byzantine Iconology

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Published: Feb 28, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.33677
Keywords:
Byzantium; Iconology; Iconicity; Historicity; Modernity; Kostas Papaioannou; Metaphysics of Light; Art History
Georgios Arabatzis
Abstract

This article presents the fundamental axes of Kostas Papaioannou’s analysis regarding Byzantine iconology, primarily focusing on his 1965 work Byzantine and Russian Painting. The author explores the distinction between iconography and iconology—originally developed by Erwin Panofsky—and examines Byzantine art through the lens of modern philosophical shifts, such as the "pictorial turn". The study highlights how Papaioannou distinguished Byzantine achievements from theories viewing them merely as a "proto-Renaissance," instead emphasizing a unique orientation centered on the "metaphysics of light" and the Neoplatonic influence of Plotinus. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the relationship between the divine liturgy and the icon, where the image serves not as a mere representation but as a personal presence of holy entities. Ultimately, the research connects Papaioannou’s early views on historicity with his mature iconological reflections to demonstrate the enduring autonomy and spiritual depth of Byzantine visual culture.

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