Unpack the powerful visual symbols artists have used throughout history.
From a single flower to a carefully placed skull, works of art across history are filled with symbols that carry powerful meanings. The Symbols of Art reveals how artists use these symbols to communicate ideas without relying on words.
Why is there a lily in that religious painting? Why does a still life include an hourglass, a mirror or a piece of fruit? In some cases, these symbols would have been immediately understood by contemporary viewers but now need decoding for a modern audience. In other instances, symbolism is more deliberately elusive, inviting viewers to look closer and think deeper.
This richly illustrated visual reference includes:
| ISBN: | 9781805700357 |
| Publication date: | 7th May 2026 |
| Author: | Susie Hodge |
| Publisher: | Frances Lincoln Limited Publishers an imprint of Frances Lincoln |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 272 pages |
| Genres: |
Theory of art History of art Religious and ceremonial art |
Unpack the powerful visual symbols artists have used throughout history.
From a single flower to a carefully placed skull, works of art across history are filled with symbols that carry powerful meanings. The Symbols of Art reveals how artists use these symbols to communicate ideas without relying on words.
Why is there a lily in that religious painting? Why does a still life include an hourglass, a mirror or a piece of fruit? In some cases, these symbols would have been immediately understood by contemporary viewers but now need decoding for a modern audience. In other instances, symbolism is more deliberately elusive, inviting viewers to look closer and think deeper.
This richly illustrated visual reference includes:
The Symbols of Art features in the following genres: Theory of art, History of art, Religious and ceremonial art
The Symbols of Art is available in Hardback
The Symbols of Art was written by Susie Hodge and published by Frances Lincoln Limited Publishers an imprint of Frances Lincoln
The Symbols of Art has 272 pages
£19.80