Art History Explained

Anything can be traced back to the Catholic church if you try hard enough.

By that I’m mainly talking about the 1600s, a time of transition between movements. From intellectualism to dramatic moments captured in art. One of the most influential movements in art was the Baroque movement (1600s-1750s), which followed the Renaissance movement and preceded the Rococo movement. Compared to the Renaissance, which emphasized humanism, learning, and intellectualism, the Baroque style was specifically sponsored by the Catholic Church in order to counter the Protestant Reformation that was occurring at that time. In this case, the Baroque style emphasized the revival of Catholicism, deep color, and the climax of a moment.

One of the most key techniques that the Baroque style uses is Tenebrism. Tenebrism is a style of painting that utilizes harsh contrasts between dark and lights in order to add drama to a image. It’s usually confused with Chiaroscuro which is sort of the father of Tenebrism, being the regular contrast of darks and lights. Either way, Tenebrism was a major element of Baroque paintings and was used for a variety of reasons; Composition, religion, and drama.

No artist was more famous in their usage of Tenebrism than Caravaggio, who was known for works such as the Calling of Saint Matthew, Judith beheading Holofernes, and The Incredulity of Saint Thomas. He generally was seen as the one who pioneered the technique but there were others who used Tenebrism in art such as Albrecht Dürer in many of his self-portraits.

The Calling of Saint Matthew (1599–1600) by Caravaggio. Oil on canvas. 322 cm × 340 cm (127 in × 130 in)

Take a look at Caravaggio’s, Calling of Saint Matthew. The subject of this painting is the story of Jesus Christ calling Saint Matthew to follow him through a contemporary sense (or at least contemporary at the time). Look at how the background is drowning in darkness with a beam of light breaking through that darkness as Christ points at Matthew, who points back at himself in surprise. The light is more than just simple illumination; it’s a representation of divinity, following Christ’s motion and hitting Matthew. It also emphasizes the key figure which is Saint Matthew though debate still occurs over which man at the table is Saint Matthew.

Let’s look at another example.

Judith and Her Maidservant (1625) by Artemisia Gentileschi. Oil on canvas. 187.2 cm (73.7 in) × 142 cm (56 in)

In Judith and Her Maidservant, the story is that Judith seduces the General Holofernes and then cuts off his head. This painting shows the moment where her maidservant wraps the head in the bag. Once again, we can note the background which is completely dark and the usage of a candle for a sharp contrast in lighting. In this case, the contrast is used to ramp up the drama. It’s so dark and their only source of light is a tiny candle which the Maidservant uses to wrap the head up. Judith is looking over the candle as if keeping watch while keeping her hand raised, almost like she’s trying to hide the light from anyone who’d be passing by. She keeps her weapon close by her side and her maidservant looks up, also seeming to take note of her surroundings. In this painting, the lighting is used to heighten the sense of drama and turmoil of the situation.

Christ Embracing Saint Bernard (1625–1627) by Francesc Ribalta. Oil on canvas. 158 cm × 113 cm (62 in × 44 in)

I think we’re starting to see a pattern here. Here we see Christ Embracing Saint Bernard by Francesc Ribalta, another famous Tenebristic painting. Don’t ask if that’s proper grammar. The background is darkened and all the light is reflected off of Saint Bernards white robe. Christ’s face is more obscured in the shadows. In this case, the deep contrast is used compositionally, making sure to highlight Saint Bernard as he kneels at Christ’s feet, hanging off of him with reverence. The focal points of this painting is these two figures although there is a face only vaguely obscured in the background.

Tenebrism transformed Baroque art and turned paintings into moments of intrigue and suspense. Its influence continues beyond the Baroque movement and into Romantic paintings like with Joseph Wright of Derby. It helped create the sense of awe that the Catholic Church meant to evoke. Its power isn’t to be understated as it brought some of the most dramatic and beautiful works of art.

If you are interested in pieces of Baroque art, go check out a nearby museum! And next time you see a moody photograph or painting bathed in darkness, ask yourself: is this Tenebrism? (Most likely).