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Symbolism

The use of forms, figures, attributes, materials, gestures, or compositional relationships to carry meanings beyond their literal appearance.

Short Definition

The use of forms, figures, attributes, materials, gestures, or compositional relationships to carry meanings beyond their literal appearance.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Language Origin

Greek

Categories

The use of forms, figures, attributes, materials, gestures, or compositional relationships to carry meanings beyond their literal appearance. In sculpture a symbol may be conventional and widely understood, culturally specific, theological, personal, or deliberately ambiguous.