A Book of Emblems: The True, The Good, and The Beautiful
An exploration of wisdom, ideas, symbolism, and spirituality in 100 beautiful and unique works of art with enigmatic texts.
I want to extend a warm welcome to all who have found this page. Whether you just happened to stumble upon it or were directed here, I think you will find the contents compelling and enlightening. You will be introduced to an art form you most likely are not very familiar with though will soon realize has so much to offer. It’s very simple, just images and text, yet it will challenge you to think about things more deeply and in a new light. Those who seek after understanding and wisdom will immediately resonate with the material. So, if you are such a curious soul that sees wonder in the world around you, I encourage you to keep reading and discover what this fascinating project has to offer; you won’t be disappointed.
re-enchanting the world
If you’re like me and have always wanted to dig a little deeper into the understanding of things, or felt there must be something more meaningful and fantastic behind the mundane everyday appearances, then you’ve come to the right place. To nourish that pervasive wonder in all of us, I’d like to present, not just a book, but the world of the emblems. This is a body of work which defies current categorization in its hearkening to a holistic tradition, combining the philosophic, religious, mystical, symbolic, and practical presented in beautiful images and words. It's a feast for the eyes and the mind, a source of inspiration and contemplation, and an invitation for the experiencer to gain a closer understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Drawing upon the format of emblematic literature from the past, this work is a collection of images each accompanied by a short explanatory text. Here you will peer into existence before creation, see the symbolic meaning of everyday objects, and discover ways of living a virtuous life. One hundred images with title and epigram is this straightforward offering and though in format simple, these pages are anything but as their depth and fullness are a treasure the reader can perpetually return to and come away with new insights. The interplay between image and text is integral; separate from each other, their message is obscure. It's only when each page is taken in as a whole do they yield their ripest fruits.
What is an emblem?
When we hear the term “emblem” today, what comes to mind is usually a logo, symbol, or simple design that is used to represent something else—a corporation, a sports team, or even a country. This is not exactly the type of emblems we’re dealing with in this book of emblems. Traditionally, starting in the 16th century, emblems were an art form composed of 3 elements: a title or motto; an illustration; and a short, sometimes poetic and often enigmatic description. An emblem book, as you probably assume, is simply a collection of these emblems.
The three elements of the emblem are often a little cryptic on their own, such that the meaning of the picture might be hard to work out, or it may seem to illustrate an ordinary scene; and the text can be poetic and so rich with meaning as to be opaque. When experienced as a whole however, all aspects should work together to slowly unfold the meaning as the observer refers back and forth from image to text.
Since this is a somewhat obscure art form, the best way to familiarize oneself with the format is to refer to examples of past emblem books such as Alciato’s Emblemata from 1531 (the first emblem book) or George Wither's, "Emblemes, Ancient and Moderne" (1635) (https://digital.libraries.psu.edu/digital/collection/emblem/id/923). Be sure to have a look at my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/michaelgenovaart) where some of the emblems featured in this book have been examined more closely and given an in depth interpretation. The Emblemata blog has a few extensive interpretations as well, of past emblems that will give the reader great insight into their power and genius.
What's in the Book
The subjects covered in the book are wide ranging, from the philosophic and religious, to symbolism and morals. A cursory look through the table of contents shows the variety of topics, many of which pertain particularly to Christian ideas. Though Christian thought underlies and influences a good deal of the material, the book should not be thought of as strictly for a Christian audience. The heart of the book is the investigation and contemplation of ideas, so there’s something here to intrigue curious minds interested in any topic.
This emblem book will feature 100 emblems divided into 3 parts or categories. Each part will include 33 emblems with the first part having 34—the very first emblem being a front piece. The three categories are as follows:
Part 1. General Principles - (The True) - 33 emblems +1
Part 2. Right Living - (The Good) - 33 emblems
Part 3. Symbols - (The Beautiful) - 33 emblems
Something Challenging
This book is meant to be a little challenging in a few different ways. Many will immediately see from the subjects covered in the table of contents, it deals with some deep philosophical ideas; and from some example texts you’ll realize the meanings are not always very apparent. Don’t let this turn you away for fear that it might be too lofty. Some of the ideas are a little complicated and some are very simple, but all are presented intentionally in an enigmatic fashion to foster the need to revisit and build familiarity.
Description of Part 1
This section is comprised of 33 emblems plus one additional emblem as the front piece. The first emblem is called "Deo Gratias", meaning 'thanks be to God'. It's fitting this be the first, standing slightly outside the main body of emblems since it is the starting point--a gate of entry if you will which instructs the reader to be in the proper state of mind and being before proceeding further. The emblem also functions as a point of departure, letting the reader know they are about to embark on a journey. The main grouping of 33 emblems in this section are concerned with general principles and ideas. They range from philosophical concepts like, epistemology and the law of non-contradiction to the Universe, Heaven, and Hell. In the triad of the true, the good, and the beautiful I've associate this grouping with "the True".
Example emblem images from Part 1
Description of part 2
Section two is described as morality, right living or “the Good”. All of the emblems in this section are concerned with human conduct or thinking in ways which further well-being, peaceful living, or accord with prescribed morality. Examples of these emblems include proverbial sayings and the virtues.
Example emblem images from Part 2
Description of part 3
The final section is all about symbols. This is by no means a comprehensive list of symbols or relegated to a certain grouping of symbols, instead this is a sampling of a wide variety of objects, animals, shapes, and elements. The idea underlying symbols is that they are things manifest in the physical world that point to something in the spiritual/non-material world. Everything is a symbol because in everything one can derive some higher concept or idea, based on the things appearance, behavior, or other qualities. It’s for this reason I associate symbols with “the Beautiful“.
Example emblem images from Part 3
Artistry of the Emblems
Each emblem can be considered a standalone work of art in its own right--an original creation beginning with a pen and ink drawing, then painted with washes of acrylic paint. The texts are original as well, having been researched and meticulously thought out, reworked, edited, and refined to be as beautiful as the images and packed with meaning.
Process of image creation, from thumbnail concept sketchs to finished painting
Using the emblems
Not only does this volume make a great coffee table book, for casual browsing to enjoy the beautiful artwork, it is also meant to be used. There is a depth to the emblems which is not always discoverable on first viewing. They slowly give up their secrets and only open up completely when the ideas they convey are pondered upon and ideally discussed with others.
Think of the emblems as a kind of contemplative tool. As a periodic practice, leaf through the book and one picture or a particular line of text may captivate you. Sit with it for a while reading the text and referring back and forth to the picture. More often than not, a better or new understanding of the concepts will start to reveal itself. It might be a revelation to you—something you’ve never considered before; or it could add a fragment to a concept you are already very familiar with. Either way, even if you disagree with the idea expressed, it will be an opportunity for growth and learning.
You're On Your Own...Sort Of
A precarious thing you will find about this book is going to be that there is no real introduction or much explanation. There will be a short note to the reader, but for the most part nothing to aid the reader in the journey through the book. Most books of this sort might have a lengthy introduction describing the what the art is, it’s historical context, information about how it was created, etc. You’re getting some of that here, but the book will not give you this background. Neither am I here, or in the book, explaining the full meaning of the emblems.
The reason for this is that the emblems speak their language of mystery for themselves. They’re slightly vague and enigmatic for a reason—to inspire deeper thought and interpretation. I want the reader to discover their meaning, not be told it. In the process of discovery is where you will benefit the most. I want everyone to have the feeling of turning the page and seeing an interesting, but strange picture and thinking, “what in the world could this mean”. Then after reading the associated text, putting some of the pieces together, but still left a little curious, knowing there’s more to it. Some will be more straight forward and others could leave you perplexed forever.
Design and Layout
The format for how the emblems are displayed in the book differs between the digital version and print edition. The printed hard cover book presents the emblems spanning across two pages, with the motto and image appearing in the sheet to the left while the title and text occupy the right sheet. On the other hand, the digital version presents each emblem (title, motto, image, and text) all on one page. This is similar to how the individual fine art prints are presented.
The difference in layout is slight, but for a reason and meaningful. Your experience with the book should be more intimate, unfolding and slower. With the layout of image to the left and text to the right, the viewer is forced to look back and forth as they relate the text to the image. Meanwhile, the digital and fine art print versions offer all the information in a more immediate way, which is great for display and ease of reference.
Why is This Book Unique
It’s not uncommon to ponder over and meditate on a fine bit of text or admire a beautiful drawing or painting, though we rarely see the two come together in a symbiotic relationship outside of illustrated stories. This emblem book however, is not a narrative and the pictures are not additional decorations, but true illuminations. Although there can be seen a sort of narrative structure to the order of the emblems, the book functions more like a collection of poems or even essays meant for the reader to deeply engage with each emblem individually. The text and image are intended to be such for the reader to read, view, and repeat this process a few times in one sitting or return to on a periodic basis, getting some new understanding or contemplating an aspect previously not considered. This interactive relationship combined with symbolic imagery welcomes interpretation while defying outright explanation, rejuvenating the reader’s connection to mystery and wonder.
Breadth of subjects
It’s hard for me to think of a book, aside from encyclopedias, which cover as wide a range of subjects as this book. Within the 3 main categories, each of the 100 emblems cover a completely different topic exploring some of that idea’s facets or implications. While encyclopedias are very sterile objective works, this book is anything but. Where the encyclopedia assesses the world out there as “a world out there“, the emblems present the world fully from a human being’s point of view—one of idealism—the world realized and created through ideas developed by experiences and sensory input interpreted through a human mind. Most of the subjects are familiar and even commonplace, but seen in a new light, leaving the viewer with a better appreciation for the world. I would like to think that with the variety of topics discussed, one could ponder over each emblem and never exhaust their depths
Exploration of symbolism
A third of the emblems in the book deal explicitly with symbols, and exploring layers of meaning through the use of symbols is what most of the pictures are built upon. Not all the symbolism or analogies will be familiar to the viewer, but progressing through the book the reader will discover the multiple meanings of objects and figures as they frequently appear and are slowly understood. The reader should, after a time, see connections between the individual emblems and ruminate on the interrelationship of the concepts. For instance, the viewer may pick up on the reoccurring imagery of trees or paths which are subjects of two of the emblems, but as they appear in other contexts may take on a slightly different meaning. The book is in a way a microcosm of the world with its variety of forms and figures presented in different contexts, slightly guided toward a specific meaning, but with the experiencer free to make connections and new ideas of their own.
An enigma for our time
Much of our world today is marked by an analytic scientific approach to how we see and understand the universe. The sense of mystery and wonder has been lost or resigned simply to “stuff that has yet to be figured out“. The overall tone of this book is quite the opposite. The style of the art, the language of the texts, and the ideas may have a tinge of foreignness, even archaism to them, but this is not a recreation, an homage to the past, or longing for the things that once were. Symbols, ideas, and images used throughout history, familiar to us for having seen them so often, are not such by coincidence or fashion. These are things which are most likely archetypal, resting somewhere deep in our psyche for which we don’t fully understand why, but resonate as things with meaning and value much deeper than their appearance. They are mysterious things, shifting their messages to us and remaining enigmatic, though not entirely vague since they seem to point in a direction we can’t but help follow. The spirit driving our age to overwhelming technological progress has left the soul—which encompasses all this moving mystery—behind to the detriment of our wholeness and well-being as humans.
I’m presenting this book to start inroads back to a soul filled world where meaning and seeking the truth of things beyond their appearance is the object. It’s a turn away from scientific and deconstructionist progress, not to say those things don’t have their place; rather, it’s that they have occupied too much space lately and may need to take a slight step aside. A full day is divided by periods of light and darkness and for man each is integral to life. The dark is unknown and indefinite, yet still constrained within bounds hidden from view. With this book you are invited to think in this dark space and discover the fruits which hang there, fruits without definite form, but sweet and nutritious all the same.
Thank you very much for your interest and support for this project and helping to see it come to fruition. I hope you find as much value in the emblems as I have in creating them. I truly intend for the book and each emblem to be treasured items of the highest quality in which you can continually find interest and beauty. Thank you again!
