Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Narcissus


Caravaggio
1597-1599

This oil on canvas was painted during a time when Caravaggio preferred a sense of atmosphere and suspense. The story of Narcissus is about an adolescent who falls in love with his own reflection. When scanning your eyes about this painting, you notice details such as the dark shadowed eye, the sensual lips, and the intense look on Narcissus' face, all causing a feeling of sadness, desire, and darkness. With Caravaggio's use of a dramatic black background against illuminated skin, viewers can easily see his use of chiaroscuro.

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