General terms:
* Iconography: This refers to the study of images and their meanings. It's often used in art history and cultural studies.
* Visual language: This term broadly refers to the use of visual elements, including pictures, to communicate meaning.
* Visual communication: This emphasizes the process of conveying messages through visual means, including images.
More specific terms:
* Pictograms: These are simple drawings that represent specific objects or concepts. They're often used in public signage, maps, and other forms of visual communication where clarity is important.
* Ideograms: These are symbols that represent ideas rather than objects. Some written languages, like Chinese, are largely based on ideograms.
* Logograms: These are symbols that represent whole words. Some languages, like Japanese, have logographic elements in their writing systems.
In the context of writing:
* Rebus puzzle: This is a type of puzzle where pictures are used to represent words or phrases.
* Graphic novel: This refers to a story told through a combination of words and pictures, often in a comic book style.
The best term to use depends on the specific context and how the pictures are being used.