Prophet Elijah in the desert with Hagiographic cycle 1325

This icon, "Prophet Elijah in the desert with Hagiographic cycle," was made by Orthodox Icons in the traditional manner using tempera on a wooden panel. The choice of materials is far from accidental; the wooden panel gives a rigid, lasting support, whilst the egg tempera provides luminosity, with colors that stay vibrant over centuries. Each pigment would have been carefully selected and layered to build up the image, from the deep reds of Elijah's robe to the gold leaf, now aged, that once illuminated the background. Icons such as this were not just paintings, but were made through skilled handcraft. The artist would have worked laboriously, preparing the panel, mixing the paints, and applying the intricate details. The devotional context gives the icon a social significance; it wasn't merely for decoration, but for spiritual contemplation and veneration. Looking closely, we see a testament to the enduring power of materials, making, and context in art.