ABSTRACT
Edwin Panofsky's Meaning in the Visual Arts is a collection of old and revised material, and although some of the essays can be considered the product of early work, it is certainly the culmination of his life's research. Panofsky's recognition as being one of the most prominent art historians of his generation is based on his numerous seminal and original publications in the field over a period of 50 years. His influence can be seen in the massive invasion of historical studies by iconographic and iconological, as well as semiological investigations, which add a visual dimension to traditional views of historical phenomena. The impact of Panofsky's work on twentieth-century intellectuals, including literary critics, cultural and intellectual historians, anthropologists, and philosophers of science, among others, far exceeds the boundaries of a single discipline and hence should not be forgotten.
