The Virgin
1658
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a woman with a dark hood pulled low over her face. Her lips are slightly parted, and her eyes are closed, as if she’s praying or lost in thought. The background is plain and dark, making her pale skin and the soft folds of her robe stand out. The way light hits her face—especially around her cheekbones and forehead—creates a gentle glow. This trick of light and shadow is called *chiaroscuro*, a technique artists used to add depth. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how other artists used this same effect.
