aniconism
/ænˈaɪkənɪzəm/
Etymology
From an- + icon + -ism.
aniconism means A prohibition against artists depicting religious figures such as divinities, prophets, or anything that can be worshiped. Lexicurio rates it Sui generis — a strength score of 87 out of 100.
aniconism is pronounced /ænˈaɪkənɪzəm/.
Why “aniconism” is a great word
ANICONISM — [Noun] A religious doctrine or practice prohibiting the creation of images, especially of deities or sacred beings. Formed within English from the Greek-derived prefix an- ("without, not"), the noun icon (from Greek eikōn, "image, likeness"), and the suffix -ism (denoting a practice or doctrine). First recorded in English 1904–1905. Unlike iconoclasm, which is the active breaking of idols, or iconography, the descriptive study of images, aniconism is a preemptive, profound withholding—a commitment to the formless. It is the empty niche where a statue was never carved, the shimmering calligraphy that evokes without depicting, and the unadorned wall facing a congregation. It is the belief that the true face of the divine is a deliberate and resonant absence.
noun
- A prohibition against artists depicting religious figures such as divinities, prophets, or anything that can be worshiped.
- More broadly, a prohibition against all forms of visual artwork and photography.