The revelation of beauty in art according to Paul Evdokimov

Abstract In dialogue with Western culture, Paul Evdokimov (1901–1970) seeks to present and make accessible the art of the icon and its spiritual potential. This article focuses on the central question of how beauty is revealed in art, as interpreted through Paul Evdokimov’s theological-aesthetic framework. At the core of his thought lies the conviction that God is the source of all beauty, and that art, particularly in its purest form for him—the icon—serves as a language of revelation, conveying spiritual significance and the presence of the divine. The study examines Evdokimov’s distinction between profane, religious, and sacred art, exploring how beauty manifests—or fails to manifest—as a theophanic reality in each category. Special attention is given to the role of iconographic canons, which, according to Evdokimov, make possible the authentic spiritual disclosure of beauty. This paper aims not only to present Evdokimov’s vision of art as potentially liturgical, but above all to critically examine the very conditions under which beauty in art can be understood as a form of divine revelation.