The artwork titled “Hodegetria,” created around 1150 by Orthodox Icons, is a mosaic situated at Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece. As an exemplar of the Middle Byzantine art movement, which spans from approximately 850 to 1204, this piece is part of the “Virgin Mary, Mother of God” series, falling under the icon genre.
The artwork depicts the Virgin Mary, also known as Hodegetria, holding the Child Jesus. The mosaic medium, characterized by its small, colored pieces arranged to form the image, showcases the detailed and expressive faces of both figures. The Virgin Mary is adorned in dark, intricate robes and a halo, signifying her sanctity, while the young Christ is similarly encircled by a golden nimbus, indicating divinity. This iconographic representation is a prominent subject in Byzantine religious art, symbolizing Mary’s role as the guide who presents Christ to the faithful.
