Expert: AliMcJ - 3/8/2004

Question
In preparation for a sermon, I'm looking for an example of an artist who might be known for using both darkness and light in his/her paintings. I want to make the point that life is always going to be a combination of darkness and light. Maybe there's a particular painting known for presenting both dark and light at the same time. Thank you for your time. GM

Answer
Rembrandt is the person who is best known for using dark backgrounds and figures emerging into the light.  The "technique" or way of using light is called Chiaroscuro, and you can find many examples by using that word also.

Another artist, Dutch as well, is Vermeer, who does mostly  interiors which are lit by a single window to the left.