Cap de expresie
1674
From the collection of National Museum of Art of Romania
1674
From the collection of National Museum of Art of Romania
Cap de expresie is a 1674 by Salvator Rosa, a Baroque work, depicting portrait, held at National Museum of Art of Romania.
This painting shows a close-up of a man’s face against a dark background. His skin is pale, with shadows under his eyes and a slight beard. The lighting hits his forehead and chin, leaving the rest in shadow. His mouth is open slightly, like he’s about to speak. The artist used strong contrasts between light and dark to make the face stand out. This technique is called *chiaroscuro*—it’s all about deep shadows and bright spots to create drama. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how other artists used this same trick.
