What is a Triptych?
Triptych art is made up of three pieces or panels. Often used to impart narrative, create a sequence, or show different elements of the same subject matter, since its conception, the triptych has continued to add a new dimension to visual art. The triptych is also used to split a single piece of art into three, or to combine three pieces into one.
The power of triptych art lies in its ability to work as a coherent piece, as well as three separate works of art. One reason the triptych is generally more popular than, say a diptych (formed of two parts) or a quadriptych (formed of four parts) is the power of the number three. From its religious symbolism, to its ability to aptly contain the beginning, middle and end of a plot, three pieces can work to accommodate a number of motifs, from balance and pattern to story and meaning.
The Origin of Triptych Art
The term triptych comes from the Greek word ‘triptykhos’, which translates to mean ‘three-layered’. The idea of three pieces creating layers and adding depth to a single artwork is central to some of the most famous and enduring triptychs throughout the history of art.
