Still Life with Porcelain
1855
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1855
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a small statue of a reclining woman holding a shell, surrounded by three fancy vases. The vases are tall and decorated with dark leaf patterns. One vase is cracked, another has a shiny metal top, and the third looks like a giant vase with roots growing out of it. The lighting makes the objects look almost three-dimensional, with strong shadows and highlights. This effect is called *chiaroscuro*—a technique that uses deep contrasts between light and dark. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow to create drama.
