Portrait of the Copperplate Engraver Carl Edvard Sonne
1850
unspecified
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
A young man sits at a cluttered wooden desk, holding a piece of paper and a tool that looks like a pen. Behind him, a window lets in dim light, and a small framed landscape painting hangs on the wall. On the desk are a violin, a few books, and another portrait in a simple frame. His dark vest and white shirt contrast with the muted tones of the room. Notice how the light falls sharply on his face, while the rest of the room stays dark—this is called *chiaroscuro*. It makes him stand out against the shadows. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and dark to create drama.
