Bouquet of Flowers in a Stone Niche
1620
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This photo shows a bouquet of flowers arranged in a dark, shadowy niche. The flowers include soft pink roses, white blooms, blue irises, and a red tulip. Green leaves and stems fill the gaps, and a few berries sit at the bottom. The background is almost black, making the colors pop. The flowers look real but are actually a staged photo, not a painting. The dark background and bright flowers create strong contrast, which was a popular trick in early photography. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting effect works in art.
