The Doctrine of Faith and the Possibilities of Art

Abstract

On various occasions over the centuries, the Church has articulated its position on images – their creation and their use in ecclesial life and practice. A positive attitude toward images, however, does not mean that they are capable of fully expressing
the entirety of Christian “dogma” in their own “language.” This article addresses the relationship between images and doctrine. Its aim is to indicate some of the relations at work, drawing attention both to the possibilities of art in visualising doctrine and to certain limitations inherent in such representation. It becomes clear that the potential of art in relation to doctrine has not yet been exhausted. The encounter between image and dogma – undoubtedly an ecclesial reality – has yet to be fully realised.