Maria Charlotta Silfverstjerna
1740
unspecified
From the collection of Finnish National Gallery
1740
unspecified
From the collection of Finnish National Gallery
This painting shows a woman sitting down, dressed in a light-colored dress with puffy sleeves and a deep blue shawl draped over her shoulders. Her hair is pulled back, and she wears a small, simple headpiece. The background is dark, making her face and clothes stand out. The way the light hits her face and clothes creates a soft, shadowy effect. This is called *chiaroscuro*—a technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark. Next, look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow to add depth.
