A Ball
1643
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows a lively group of people dancing in a dimly lit room. The floor is black-and-white checkered tiles, and the walls are dark with a few framed pictures hanging. Everyone is dressed in fancy 17th-century clothes—men in ruffled shirts and hats, women in long skirts and lace collars. Their faces are bright, and they seem to be moving in time with music. Notice how the artist used strong light and shadow to make the scene feel alive. The faces glow against the dark background, pulling your eye to the dancers. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works.
