Mary Jane miller is an Iconographer living in Mexico. Her collection presented here are 60 versions of women in Byzantine-style contemporary iconography. Each on captures one aspect of the great mystery and power of being female through the images of Women in Iconography who followed Jesus. Orthodox iconography is not static, it has imagery that sheds light on our historical relationship with Jesus Christ. The viewer enters, summoned into an unspoken communication of honesty and understanding, respect and responsibility, knowledge and acceptance, pride and joy, and love as you gaze at an image. While gazing at these contemporary examples, I invite you to reflect on the lives of Christian women and let your heart open to all that has yet to be documented about the sacred art of women in Iconography and their unrecorded history.
I have painted a collection of noble women in iconography to highlight their discipleship through their knowing Christ. The imagery is well thought out, keeping with the contemporary discussions about biblical women in Iconography. Their portrayal includes women on thrones like that of Saint Simona seated, women writing as intelligent teachers of truth, some conversing with men, or being robbed of investments like a priestess.
The images and ideas are based on historical and traditional masterworks. Some icons are lesser-known saints or even unnamed. The paintings are my versions of women in Iconography, sometimes inspired to change the landscape, style, color, or symbols while keeping the intrinsic message.
The Orthodox Church and its long history of Byzantine iconography have preserved a visual language used to represent the divine, as well as to help teach us about the faith. Standing before an icon provokes us to be still and enter the quiet peace that comes with surrender. When we witness the faces of women with their trance-like stares, we journey into a deep silence - a meditative silence - that allows us to contemplate and experience our thoughts. These women are witnesses to the divine as we are witnesses. However, to see more women in iconography will require new attention to the imagined greatness that the female psyche has to offer.
Discover the divine beauty of women through Miller's exquisite iconographic collection of artwork in "Women in Iconography". Her depictions blend elegance with new iconography based on history, consisting of 42 icons that visually commentate on women mentioned in the Bible and throughout Christian history.
Miller's compositions capture the feminist voice in Scripture, which is sometimes absent in ancient tradition. These Byzantine-style icons reveal the beauty of our female presence and our intimate relationship with the divine nature of God. Her book exhausts the purpose and unique place for women to be honored in Church for ages to come.
For those studying women in Iconography, Christianity, Art History, general Iconography, women's studies, and book clubs, Miller's thoughts and illustrations are a luxurious addition to your bookshelf. Be inspired by her visual commentary on women mentioned in the Bible and throughout Christian history, and experience the divine beauty of women in iconography in a new light.
