Question

The representation of light in painting has been used to serve a variety of purposes. Identify two artists, each from different art historical periods, who have explored the effects of light. Discuss the function and use of light in specific works by each artist.

Answer 1

The use of light and shade in drawings and paintings is known as chiaroscuro. Most of the Artists use lights and shadows in their paintings but the purpose of using the lights differ with different artists.

1. Peter Paul Rubens

Sir Peter Paul Rubens (28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish artist and a renowned master of chiaroscuro, which he used mainly to bring a sense of drama to historical scenes. He was a painter who's work was extremely detailed along with lighting so good that it managed to work as some sort of guide for the viewer to see each and every detail of the paintings.

2. Johannes Vermeer

Johannes Vermeer (October 1632 – December 1675) Unlike most of the artists who used chiaroscuro to create a darker and more intense effect, Vermeer used to create compositions with more light.

In his composition The Milkmaid (1657-58) where he used the window as a gateway of light and bestows the blue color of the attire (a color that was particularly expensive back then) a unique hue that wasn’t common at that time. He also used the same effect in The Geographer (1668-69).

3.Joaquín Sorolla

The Spanish artist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (27 February 1863 – 10 August 1923), used to paint portraits and historical scenes. His work mostly consists of landscapes and outdoor scenes, meaning that most of his subjects are constantly under the rays of the sun. In his famous The Death of Pedro Velarde y Santilla, Sorolla efficiently manages to control the light of the sky during the battle making a difference between the action in the barracks and the one from the exterior.