Panagia Glykofiloussa (The Sweet Kissing Madonna) 1150

Orthodox Icons, beginning around 330 AD, created 'Panagia Glykofiloussa' – or ‘Sweet Kissing Madonna’ – through tempera on wood. The icon’s material presence is defined by its very process: pigments ground and mixed with egg yolk, applied in delicate layers to a prepared wood panel. This wasn’t just painting; it was a devotional act, each brushstroke imbued with spiritual significance. The selection of materials was no accident either; natural pigments connected the artwork to the earth, and the use of wood emphasized its rootedness in the natural world. Icons like these provided a tangible link between the earthly and the divine, reflecting a collective labor of faith. By understanding the materials, the making, and the cultural context, we can appreciate the depth of meaning embedded in this image, revealing how the sacred and the material intertwine.