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Title: Using AI for Icon Analysis
The paper examines the AI analysis of the selection of icons exhibited at "The Light of the Logos," an international, juried exhibition of sacred art held in Belgrade in August 2025. This exhibition showcased the works of some of the most significant and talented icon painters from Serbia and around the globe. Featuring over a hundred meticulously crafted icons, the event included contributions from 97 artists hailing from a diverse array of countries, each presenting their unique interpretations of sacred themes. Notably, the exhibition displayed the finest works created by local authors within the past year, shining a spotlight on contemporary iconography while honoring traditional techniques. The selected artists display a diverse array of artistic interests. Some specialize in icon painting and focus solely on this form of expression, while others engage in various types of art and occasionally create icons.
This small-scale dataset is used for analyzing artwork through AI applications, with results compared to the actual characteristics of the pieces. This selection offers an intriguing opportunity for several reasons. First, it allows for an iconographical analysis of the paintings, which, while adhering to certain iconographical canons and conventions, also display the artistic freedom of their creators. Additionally, as the paintings are created on diverse surfaces such as canvas, wood, or stone, they present interesting and challenging material for AI analysis due to the various techniques used and the wide range of materials involved. The outcome reveals various obstacles and limitations inherent in the AI analysis of visual elements and design principles. It highlights the challenges that AI faces in accurately interpreting artistic context and conveying the deeper meaning behind each work.