Christ on the Cross between the Virgin Mary and St John
1800
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This black-and-white photo shows a man nailed to a cross, arms spread wide. To his left, a woman in a long robe kneels with her hands pressed together. On his right, another person stands with one hand on their face, looking down. The background is dark and rough, making the figures stand out sharply. The lighting is dramatic—dark shadows contrast with the pale skin and cloth. This style is called *chiaroscuro*, where light and dark create strong contrast. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
