This might be in the wrong place, but I wasn't sure where else to put it...
Saw this floating around the web...

The Holy Martyrs of Libya by a Serbian artist named Nicola Saric. On the one hand, he's named as an 'artist,' on the other hand, he has chosen a very specific style and the image is currently on display at Brenkhausen Monastery (Coptic Orthodox) in Höxter, Germany as a 'modern icon.'
Are the OO rules different? Because I find it decidedly unsettling. It doesn't look like any icon I've ever seen.
I'm not an expert on iconography. Can you elaborate on what the problems are with this? I guess the depictions of ISIS are troubling, in the sense that they aren't portrayed as defeated. It seems that icons that portray Satan, demons, or evildoers usually depict them as being defeated by Christ or St. Michael. I'm just speculating. I don't know for certain. I need to learn more about iconography.
Selam
My problem with it is that it's so dark. Even Christ's glory is subdued. There are plenty of icons of martyrs where the executioners are depicted where they are not necessarily being "defeated" at the moment.
That makes sense. Although these icons look pretty dark as well. But, yeah, something just doesn't quite seem right about the icon in question. But God bless the artist for trying to bring attention to these holy martyrs.
Selam
Thank you for the other icons, hecma. I've only seen the one of St. Stephan, before.
I don't know much about iconography, either, which is why I wanted to ask about this. Specifically, the things bothering me:
My understanding has always been that saints are depicted as they are in heaven?
(This may be incorrect) In this case, though, they seem decidedly earthly. They're depicted at the moment of excecution, clad as prisoners, with their necks wrenched out of place, surrounded by a river of their own blood.
In contrast, I'm used to seeing groups of martyrs depicted like this:
Holy Chinese Martyrs of the Boxer RebellionI think the artist's intent is good. But the final work--in the style of an icon, but somehow off--is unsettling.
(And I'm still not convinced that this is meant as an icon for veneration... regardless of how the internet is reporting it.)