Question

How does viewing Byzantine representational art as Icons/Windows change the interpretations we give them? Does that adequately account for the change in style to more simplified and non-natural forms? Or do you think that there was a loss in artistic skill after the fall of the Roman Empire? Is the Byzantine understanding of Icon helpful in understanding our obsession with art in museums, where we place singular objects against a blank white wall within temple like complexes to be revered and honored?

Answer 1

Byzantine icons are religious motivated paintings.

Step-by-step explanation:

Our artistic value of the icons is influenced by the religious atmosphere.

As far as I know, there hasn´t been a change in style nor a loss of artistic skill. Rather, the Byzantine art flourished after the fall of the East Roman Empire and maintained this throughout the existence of the Byzantine Empire that lasted until 1453 (Fall of Constantinople). Even nowadays the Byzantine art & icons of the Christian Ortodox countries in Eastern Europe is still very much alive.

Byzantine icons can be considered as an devotional art form where the religious person depicted in the painting is the object of worshipping, not the painting itself.

Speaking of, the striking resemblence in the worshipping of byzantine icons (religiously motivated) and modern art (culturally motivated) is hard to be overseen and sure looks like obsession.