Icons should be regarded not only by the faithful, but also by collectors and fans, first of all as religious objects. Only in this way will an icon be able to “open” itself to the eyes of the observer and fully reveal its sacred meaning, as well as the most hidden reasons for its own pictorial conception. If, on the other hand, we remove the primary meaning of the icon, the theological and religious one, it can often appear poor, monotonous in repetitiveness of the subjects and hieratic gestures of characters. And by its very essence, the icon wants to place itself in a timeless realm, referring to ancient images and faithfully reflecting archaic narratives, so that it can continue to offer to the faithful their thaumaturgical power and sacredness.
Marisa Bianco Fiorin
