University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Online Symbolism Dictionary
Great website where you can look up literary symbols in a searchable index. For each symbol there is a brief explanation of its significance and links to other related symbols.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of African Art: Artful Animals
African artists commonly base their work on animals observed in their natural habitats. Artful Animals lets you view African art that takes animals as its subject and inspiration. Learn about animals as symbols in African art, the beauty...
Other
Louvre Museum: A Closer Look at the Virgin and Child With Chancellor Rolin
A full-featured exploration of a sumptuous portrait of the Virgin and Child by Van Eyck, with insightful descriptions, analysis, and interpretative commentary. Especially insightful notes about the painting's religious symbolism.
University of Manchester
Children's University of Manchester: Talking Textiles: How Do Textiles Talk?
Interactive series of graphics, with samples of the Bayeux Tapestry and an adire cloth from Nigeria Explains how to look closely at the imagery, color, and patterns of textiles to undercover their hidden meanings and symbolic content.
Other
West African Wisdom: Adinkra Symbols & Meanings
This resource is an "Adinkra symbol index." Use it to find descriptions and meanings behind the African symbols shown.
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Historical Society: The Chicago Flag
A brief, kid-friendly examination of the Chicago flag that explains what a symbol is and that also reveals what the colors and symbols of Chicago's flag represent. An excellent introduction to the symbolic content of images or a lesson...
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Panel With a Griffin
A work of Byzantine craftmanship (ca. 1250-1300) that takes the griffin--a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion--as its subject. The traditional role of griffins as protectors of the dead was...
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Symbolism
This websites provides a detailed article about symbolism in art.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Look for the Symbol in the Sculpture
This websites answers the question, "What is a Symbol?" Click on the sculptures for a description of the symbols in each work.
PBS
Pbs: Nova: Lost Treasures of Tibet: Deciphering Buddha Imagery
Interactive presentation explains the many ways that the Buddha is represented in art. Discusses the symbolic nature of his appearance as well as the Buddha's characteristic hand gestures, or mudras.
Other
Denver Art Museum: Chinese Dragon Robe
From the Denver Art Museum, this is an exploration of the hidden meaning in the imagery that would decorate a traditional imperial Chinese Dragon Robe.
Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago: Mummy Case
Examine an Egyptian mummy case and view three accompanying videos to learn how mummies were made, how we know the identity of the man whose remains are in the case, and how the symbols that decorate the case should be interpreted.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Looking at Art
Course covering why art matters, elements of art, and principles of composition.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Arts and Humanities: Art of Asia
A landing page for a course on the art history of Asia.
ArtLex
Art Lex: Traditional Signs
Read about the role of sign and signage in art. Includes a quote from philosopher Albert Camus and links to related topics.