Coptic Icons as an Integral Part of Coptic Art
Most Egyptian Christians believe that iconography appeared in Egypt and influenced the spread of icon painting all around the world. The well-known example of Christian art is Coptic art of Byzantine-Greco-Roman Egypt and Coptic Christian Churches. It is worth noting that works of this style represent the fusion of artistry and craftsmanship, which can be easily seen in such pieces of art as Coptic icons, tunics, tombstones, etc. Coptic art now exists within the Neo-Coptic school and is used in the Coptic Church.
What is Coptic art?
Coptic art has its origin in Egyptian and Hellenistic arts, displaying the range of symbols from both branches. Among its distinctive examples are textiles that served as a tool for burying the dead. Linen or wool textiles were made in different tints of red, blue, green, black, and brown colors. Another important part of Coptic art is Coptic icons aimed to show the beauty and spirituality, rather than realistic images of the saints.
Why are Coptic icons abstract?
The key feature of Christian iconography is the placement of a holy figure in the center as a visual reflection of the faith. Coptic icons impress with their canon proportion, uncluttered design, and lack of unnecessary details, thus presenting the most essential information to the viewer. There are several reasons why these icons are focused on abstraction. The most prominent is to show the beauty of the spiritual realm and the holiness of saint figures, rather than to glorify the human world with its realistic features and limitations. And this point of view is quite logical.
It is known that paintings made in a realistic manner are to praise the beauty of the body and to mark the excellence of the artistic style. As opposed to this, Coptic art follows the transfigured body in the icon, which points to the Holy Spirit that simply cannot be represented visually in a realistic style. Most popular elements that appear in the icons (e.g., sky and clouds) are replaced by gold leaf that serves to symbolize the presence of God. Coptic art avoids natural perspective and portrays figures in a 2-dimensional way. It is also quite often that the figure of Jesus Christ is depicted larger in size than those less important.
Coptic icons are truly an integral part of Coptic art, reflecting the amazing culture and legacy of Egypt. They explain the meaning of the Christian faith in the region and all around the world.