Carnegie Museum of Art

In a very basic sense, the contrast of light and shadows in the paintings at the Carnegie Museum of Art were used to make subjects on a two dimensional surface appear three dimensional. This added depth makes the image more realistic, rather than leaving it flat and lifeless. The amount of highlighting and shadows, as well as the saturation of colors in the painting, also contribute to the overall feeling that the painting conveys. For example, a darker painting may invoke sadness, and a brighter painting happiness. Some artists are more effective in using light and color to add life to an image. Below are some examples that I found to be particularly interesting or skillful.

Cape Cod Afternoon, Edward Harper

Edward Harper's Cape Cod Afternoon uses light and shadow to create dimension and depth to the buildings in the scene. The lighting also helps to indicate the time of day - afternoon - and creates a cheerful, uplifting mood. The bright colors gives a sense of what life could be like in a typical Cape Cod community.

Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Mill, Pittsburgh, Raymond Simboli

Raymond Simboli's Allegheny-Ludlum Steel Mill, Pittsburgh uses light to depict fire. The lighting and color in this particular painting is vital to make the fire appear realistic. The intensity of the light and the saturation of the reds, oranges, and yellows in the painting also give a sense of the extreme temperatures required in the steel mills in order to heat and melt the iron.

Allegory of Spring and Summer, Tintoretto (Jacopo Robusti)

Tintoretto's (Jacopo Robusti) Allegory of Spring and Summer uses the contrast of light and shadow to control the depth of field between the foreground and background. The main focal point of the painting is a figure in the foreground, a woman who appears to be the personification of spring. In the foreground, the contrast is high, providing greater detail through highlights and shadows. In the background, the details are less pronounced, with the majority of the scenery in much lighter tones. There isn't as much shadowing as in the foreground, and the saturation is low, giving it a more muted, almost hazy appearance. This prevents the surrounding scene from distracting the eye from the details of the figure.

View of the Waterfall at Tivoli, Claude-Joseph Vernet

Claude-Joseph Vernet's View of the Waterfall at Tivoli also uses the lighting to bring the foreground into focus. The detailed highlights and shadows give life to the scene in front of the falls, particularly the grouping of people gathered on the stones below. The lighting also helps to create a sense of motion in the water. Among the examples that I’ve included, View of the Waterfall at Tivoli was the one I found most impressive. The figures are very lifelike and I definitely got a sense of what it might be like to spend a day fishing by the falls.

Venus Lamenting the Death of Adonis, Benjamin West

Benjamin West’s Venus Lamenting the Death of Adonis has a similar but opposite use of lighting to bring the foreground into focus. The background is very dark and little detail is visible. In the foreground, Venus bends over the body of Adonis. Highlights and shadows are used to emphasize the expressions on the face of Venus and a watching cherub. A tear can be seen clearly on the cherub’s cheek, while the rest of his face is in shadow. The highlights and shadows also help to create texture in Venus’s dress, giving dimension to the folds in the fabric.

Like these paintings, I’m also hoping to use light to enhance my photographs. I don’t want my images to simply document reality – I want them to come to life, so that anyone looking at them may be able to image what it would be like to be in that scene. If I do include people in any of my work, I would like them to be relateable. I want people to be able to read emotions from my work. I especially like the way that depth of field can impact a photograph, and I plan on using that in my own work.

Pedestal I, Carnegie Museum of Art - May, 2014

Pedestal II, Carnegie Museum of Art - May, 2014