Art and spirituality
the icon on the razor's edge
Article summary proposed by the Contacts review with LLM assistance
This article examines the fundamental principles of Orthodox iconography through a reflection on the relationship between art and spirituality. Jean-Claude Polet adopts a theological and aesthetic approach to expound the nature and function of the icon in the Eastern Christian tradition. The central idea is that the icon does not belong to mere artistic representation, but constitutes the visible manifestation of an invisible spiritual reality, thereby inscribing sacred art within an economy of divine presence. The article highlights the anthropological dimension of Orthodox iconography: the contemplation of the icon engages the human being in a process of inner unification oriented toward divine likeness. On the theological level, this study contributes to clarifying the ontological status of the sacred image and its role in the Orthodox understanding of the deification of man.
This article has not been translated yet — it is available in its French version here.
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