Symbolism (arts)

Symbolism is understood to be a system or repertoire of symbols, that is, sensually perceptible or imaginable carriers of meaning (living beings, things, actions, processes) to which a certain culture, community or artistically or poetically expressive person assigns a meaning that goes beyond the sensually perceptible thing.

The term symbolism is used especially for symbol systems in the field of religion and mythology, art, poetry and psychology, while symbol systems that primarily serve practical communication in everyday life, such as writing systems and scientific or musical notation systems, traffic signs or identification signs in the field of fashion and advertising, are spoken of as symbols (in the sense of signs) in a broader sense, but their system or repertoire is not usually referred to as symbolism.

Depending on the context, the same carrier of meaning can assume significance both in a symbol system for practical communication and in a symbolism in the narrower sense, such as the Greek letter tau (Τ), which on the one hand represents a certain phonetic value in Greek writing and, when used alphanumerically, a numerical value derived from its position in the alphabet (300), but on the other hand is interpreted in the context of Christian letter symbolism by means of its visual form as a figure of the cross of Christ or is referred to other religious contents on the basis of its numerical value.

When we speak of the symbolism of a particular signifier (e.g. the symbolism of the tree) or of a whole class of signifiers (e.g. the symbolism of plants, the symbolism of colours), we are referring to their particular character as signs (symbolic character) and/or to the spectrum of their meanings (symbolic content) within a particular system of symbols.

Religious symbolism

Religious symbolism can be distinguished according to "theologically dogmatic" or generally esoteric symbolism. In 1832 Johann Adam Möhler introduced the term "symbolism" (derived from the Greek "symbolon" as a designation of the creed) for the presentation of doctrinal commonalities and doctrinal differences between the denominations. From then on, denominational studies was also called "symbolism".

Esoteric symbolism

General esoteric symbolism is valid regardless of culture, creed and time. Its elements are either figurative or merely glyphic or geometric and are therefore found in similar form everywhere. This is especially true of the most basic symbols such as the dot, circle, cross, triangle, stars of all kinds, and of course the sun. Certain letters and numbers also have a strong symbolic character. This is especially true in the Jewish Kabbalah, and therefore also in the architectural ornamentation of the Christian Occident since the Middle Ages. Many figurative symbols originate from the theogony and mythology of the respective cultural area, others from the so-called universal tradition in its development since prehistory and from Babylon (Sumer) via Egypt, Greece and Rome, which, however, also finds its counterparts in ancient America (pre-Inca, pre-Maya, pre-Columbian culture). From the world creation myths to theogony and anthropogony to the doctrines of redemption, numerous correspondences are found throughout the world and in every era of humanity. Special symbol families have developed in alchemy, in heraldry and in the Gnostic tradition since the 2nd century BC.