The Prodigal Son
1619
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
Dominant colour
The Prodigal Son is a 1619 by Unknown, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.
This black-and-white photo shows a group of people in a dim room. A woman in a white dress stands near a table with a cloth and some objects. Others are scattered around—some sitting, some standing, all looking busy or lost in thought. The walls are rough, and the lighting is uneven, making shadows deep. The woman in white holds something small in her hand. The room looks messy, like a space where people live or work. The photo feels old, with faded edges and a grainy look. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how light and shadow create drama in photos like this.
