Final answer:
The relationship between the signifier and the signified in an icon involves a direct relationship where the signifier (visual form) evokes the concept or idea (signified) in the viewer's mind. This dynamic is crucial in understanding symbols in both commercial designs like logos and historical, cultural art forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between the signifier and the signified in an icon can be understood through the study of semiotics, which is the science of signs and symbols and how they communicate meaning. An icon is a type of sign where the signifier is an image that resembles or suggests its meaning through a direct relationship. For instance, a picture of a tree signifies the concept of a tree. This is unlike other types of signs where the relationship between signifier and the signified might not be as direct. In the context of an icon, the signifier is the physical form, such as the colors, shapes, and imagery used, whereas the signified is the idea or concept that it represents to the viewer.
For example, when graphic designers create logos, they are making icons. These logos (signifiers) immediately convey the identity of a company (signified) to the viewer. Similarly, artists can evoke spiritual experiences by using color schemata from religious icons, creating an association with the sacred. Here, the visual elements of the icon (signifier) cue a spiritual response or feeling (signified) often at a subconscious level.
Understanding the interplay between signifier and signified is essential in iconographic analysis, as it reveals the underlying meanings and intentions behind visual representations, both in commercial and historical art forms.