Symbols exert a strong hold in the image-saturated 21st century, and have done so for thousands of years. From national emblems to corporate logos and emojis, our day-to-day lives abound with icons with roots in the distant past. In ‘The Hidden Language of Symbols’, expert art historian Matthew Wilson traces the often surprising trajectories that symbols have taken through history, from their original purposes to their modern meanings. From Palaeolithic cave paintings to contemporary installations, Wilson deftly guides us through this world of symbols, showcasing their enduring ability to express power, hope, fear and faith, and to create and communicate identities, uniting – or dividing – the people that made them. Image: Bernat Martorell, Saint George and the Dragon, 1434–35. Tempera on panel, 155.6 × 98.1 cm. Art Institute of Chicago. Gift of Mrs Richard E. Danielson and Mrs Chauncey McCormick. #symbols #symbolism #symbology