4. Florenskii, Metaphysics and Reverse Perspective

Abstract

The philosophical meaning and formal peculiarities of the icon within a system of reverse perspective were first examined by the Russian philosopher and theologian Pavel Florenskii (1882–1937). It is fundamentally important to analyze his writings to understand the basis on which to view the icon as an art form, especially given that his ideas coincided with those of many Russian and Western avant-garde artists. Particular attention is devoted to a replica of Andrei Rublev’s (1360–1428) Trinity icon (1411, or 1425–27), which belonged to Florenskii himself. As Florenskii wrote, ‘Rublev’s Trinity exists, hence God exists’ – the kernel of his symbolic concept and metaphysics of reverse perspective. Published in this chapter are drawings illustrating reverse perspective in Florenskii’s own hand, discovered in the Florenskii family archive in Moscow by the author.