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Work #813 · Late

Studies in Iconology

Erwin Panofsky
1939 · English
Art-historical essays · Twentieth-century Warburg-school iconology

Panofsky's 1939 founding work of modern iconology — three levels of art interpretation

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Studies in Iconology (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Tradition
Observer · Theological Method —
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

⧖

Time

Studies in Iconology

The historical time of Renaissance art.

✦

Space

Studies in Iconology

The visual space of pictorial composition.

◉

Matter

Studies in Iconology

The painted image as material work.

◎

Observer

Studies in Iconology

The iconologist at three levels of interpretation.

⚡

Energy

Studies in Iconology

Energies of symbolic-iconographic tradition.

⧉

Information

Studies in Iconology

The image at three levels of meaning.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Studies in Iconology

Panofsky's Studies in Iconology: foundational for modern art history; central reference for the iconological tradition (alongside Gombrich).