Christ Pantocrator (double-sided Hodegetria of Korsun) 1270

This wooden panel depicts the Christ Pantocrator and was created by Orthodox iconographers. The icon is a product of the Orthodox Christian tradition, where art serves a spiritual and didactic function. Looking at this image, we can consider how the visual codes, such as the specific hand gestures and facial expressions, are meant to convey theological concepts and the divine nature of Christ. The icon tradition in places like Russia, where this piece now resides, was deeply intertwined with the Church and State. Icons were not simply aesthetic objects; they were integral to religious practice, political legitimacy, and cultural identity. When studying the icon, research into theological treatises, liturgical practices, and historical chronicles is essential. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.