The influence of Caravaggio and his genre-esque paintings using very dark backgrounds lit with strong light withing compositions of deep contrast to convey a moodiness, this technique was called chiaroscuro (Italian for light-dark) or tenebrism (from the Italian word
tenebroso meaning shadowy or murky). This device was well-studied and influenced the Dutch painters greatly. His work was studied in the Dutch school of Utrecht among others. The great Dutch painters used this compositional device to great effect and the 17th century is known as the Dutch Golden age - Frans Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Rubens, among others.
 |
Gerard van Honthorst, Merry Company, 1623,
with the chiaroscuro composition often used by the
Utrecht Caravaggists |
References:
- Gardner's Art Through the Ages, A Global History, 13th ed., by Fred S. Kleiner - Chapter 24 and 25
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro
- http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=AOb&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&biw=1541&bih=707&site=search&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=Chiaroscuro+painting+%2B17th+century+europe&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=
- http://www.ask.com/wiki/Genre_painting
No comments:
Post a Comment