From Deiform to Sanctified Humanism: The "Reconciliation" (?) of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Art in the Work of Kostas Papaioannou
Abstract
This article examines how the philosopher Kostas Papaioannou processes the divergence and simultaneous reconciliation of Hellenism and Christianity within the field of art, primarily through his three aesthetic studies: Art and Civilization in Ancient Greece, Byzantine and Russian Painting, and Alexander's Legacy. The author argues that Papaioannou identifies a common denominator between these traditions in their "materials"—pure humanity and absolute divinity—which merge harmoniously in both the ancient Greek statue and the Byzantine icon. The study categorizes Papaioannou’s observations into three distinct points: the transition from ancient naturalism and deiform humanism to Byzantine mysticism and sanctified humanism; the shift from the impersonal nature of classical sculpture to the awakened subjectivity of the iconographic gaze; and the historical boundary where Byzantine art begins to encounter Western psychological realism. Ultimately, Papaioannou views Byzantine art not as a simple continuation, but as a "reconciliation" that allowed Hellenism to realize new spiritual possibilities through the "graft" of Christianity.
Article Details
- How to Cite
-
Psomakis, G. (2023). From Deiform to Sanctified Humanism: The "Reconciliation" (?) of Ancient Greek and Byzantine Art in the Work of Kostas Papaioannou. Ηθική. Περιοδικό φιλοσοφίας, (16-17), 104–114. https://doi.org/10.12681/ethiki.33680
- Issue
- No. 16-17 (2023)
- Section
- Articles
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). This license allows others to share and adapt the work, provided that the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal are properly acknowledged.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their personal websites) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
