Light by Monica Nahas

Light is not commonly referenced as an element of art, but is considered a basic element of visual perception. Light is what makes color visible. Different wavelengths of light produce different colors. Without any light in our world, we would not be able to see anything. According to Louise Lippincott, co-organizer of the exhibition and curator of fine arts at Carnegie Museum of Art, "Light is a fundamental element of life and something that can either be taken for granted or have a physical presence and physical effects -- something that is just as true for each of us as it is for the scientist and the artist" (Light, 2003). It is for this reason that light is often utilized as a tool by artists in order to create certain effects in their artwork. Light has been used by artists differently depending on the time period and the corresponding events and styles notable of that era. However, regardless of time period and artistic styles, NextMonet expresses that all artists use light in their artwork to "give substance to shape and depth to space, to organize shapes within a space, to direct our perception of shape and color, and to embody their images with psychological and emotional power" (2003). Different types of light are also used to illustrate different effects. Various artists have used natural light, artificial light, bright light, dim light, dramatic light, and shadows to create differing effects.

Natural Light
	Natural light can have varying effects on the interpretation of an artwork. In the photograph on the left, the action of the sun setting captures the natural behavior of light. The various shades of pink and the illusion that the sun's light is gradually becoming softer and blending with the sky gives the viewer a feeling of peace and relaxation. Many artists from the impressionist time period, such as Claude Monet, enjoyed capturing the natural effects of light in the environment. In this case, the sunset shows the movement of light in nature and elicits the notion of time passing by.
The photograph on the right shows another way light behaves in nature. The reflection of light on water causes a natural mirroring effect. The houses and trees adjacent to the water can be viewed as reflections in the water. Claude Monet was a painter intrigued with the effect of light on different objects, such as water. These sorts of natural effects of light on the environment bring about a sense of wonderment and awe regarding the mysterious works of life and nature.
Shadows
	Shadows are also often a result of natural light, but depend on the direction of the light source. Shadows are often used to either emphasize the object being shadowed or to give viewers a mystifying, almost ghostly sensation. In the photograph to the left, only the cast shadows are present without the actual objects. This gives the photograph a sense of mystery and uniqueness. Often times in abstract art and non-objective art, light and/or shadow is used as the subject matter in order to create unrealistic effects. Artists of abstract art create such works in order to express themselves or express certain emotions (UMFA, 1999). The viewer can interpret what the people in the photograph are doing without technically seeing the people. The absence of the objects, however, does create a sense of mystery and ambiguity. Baroque artists, such as Caravaggio and Rembrandt, were often interested in creating dramatic effects with lighting, such as using contrasting light and shadow to generate emotion.
Dim Light and Darkness
Dim light and darkness are also often used to generate a certain mood or emotion within viewers. Baroque artists once again were notorious for using dramatic light, shadow, and darkness (or the absence of light), to highlight or spotlight certain features and induce emotion (Loggia, 2003). The photograph to the right uses dim light and darkness to create a sense of quite, peace, and perhaps loneliness with the child sitting inside on a gloomy, cloudy, and rainy day. The child is obscured, her figure only noticeable, while she sits in front of slightly lit windows backed by several rain drops. Using this sort of contrast between darkness and light is one way to use dramatic lighting to bring a sense of emotion to the image.
Artificial Light
	Artificial light also seems to be used by artists to generate certain emotion, but can also add substance to shape, depth to space, and influence our perceptions of shape and color. Neon art is a unique form of art created by the use of artificial light. It is often used by artists to generate excitement and add a "dynamic dimension" to the work (Sedona, 2003). The photograph to the left is an example of neon art that illustrates the use of bright and artificial lighting to draw focus and attention to the sign. The artificial lighting also includes the additional lighting below the sign which has the effect of drawing the viewer's attention to the symbols in the sign. According to Sharon Silvia, author of an Art/Technology Newsletter, neon works, such as the one photographed here, often "emanate an elusive and ethereal luminescence that can be very seductive" (1998).

Online Museum Examples:

1. Claude Monet's Le Moulin de l´Onbekende Gracht, Amsterdam (The Windmill on the Onbekende Canal, Amsterdam). The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. http://www.mfah.org/main.asp?target=collection&par1=9&par3=31 (click on fourth painting in the first row)
Monet was often known as a legendary master of light. He was intrigued by capturing the natural effect light had on objects and the movement of light. In this painting, Monet captures the reflection of the windmill in the water, concentrating on the natural reflection of light on water, a common theme in early Impressionist paintings. Also of important notice are the quick and colorful brush strokes in this painting. Monet and other impressionists wanted to give their viewers the impression of the rapid movement of light and time, concentrating on the transient effect of light on objects. Capturing the moment in time was essential for artists like Monet. Monet was also known for his skill in using light and shadow to illustrate realism. For this reason, he enjoyed painting scenes from nature and contemporary life.

2. Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus. Web Museum, Paris. http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/caravaggio/emmaus.jpg
Caravaggio was known for his use of dramatic lighting and shadows to elicit various emotions among viewers. This particular painting uses bright lighting effects to highlight the Lord's presence at supper and the meal as the focal point. Caravaggio also uses shadows to further enhance his brightly lit focal point and guide the viewer's attention to the table, meal, and the people's expressions. The combination of light and shadow also help bring a sense of realism to this painting. This use of dramatic lighting, contrasting light and shade to create a sense of depth, volume, and focus, is often referred to chiaroscuro and was also common during the Renaissance period (Delahunt, 2003). Tennebrism, or raking cellar light, is also a lighting technique commonly used by Caravaggio in his paintings containing a dark background and directed light (Jackson, 2002).

Bibliography:

1. Art History at Loggia (2003). Exploring the History of Art. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.loggia.com/art/

2. Art Term Glossary. Retrieved September 10, 2003. http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/Mountain_Pointe_HS/art/design_tech/artterms.html#L

3. Cherkas, C. (2002). Moments of Light. Modern Painter.com. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.modernpainter.com/theories2.html

4. Cool Fire Technology (1997). Art Movements and Periods. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.cftech.com/BrainBank/OTHERREFERENCE/THEARTS/ArtMvmtsandPeriods.html

5. Delahunt, M. (2003). ArtLex Art Dictionary. Retrieved September 10, 2003. http://www.artlex.com/ArtLex/c/chiaroscuro.html

6. Interview with Cassie Trout, art educator, on August 30, 2003.

7. Jackson, C. (2002, November 25). Museum Mania World Wide Web Treasure Hunt. Museum Mania. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.museummania.com/treasure7.htm

8. Light! shines at Carnegie Museum of Art Unique exhibition shows how art, science, and everyday life were changed by discoveries about light during the Industrial Age. Retrieved September 10, 2003. http://www.cmoa.org/html/media/press79.htm

9. NextMonet. Retrieved September 10, 2003. http://www.nextmonet.com/artsmart/CAC100.jhtml

10. Roskill, M. Art Periods: Impressionism. Discover France. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Art/impressionism.shtml

11. Sedona Arts Center (2003). Into the Light Exhibition. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://www.sedonaartscenter.com/SpecialEvents/IntoTheLightExhibit/exhibit.htm

12. Silvia, S. (1998, August 27). Neon Knights. What you need to know about Art/Technology. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://arttech.about.com/library/weekly/aa082798b.htm

13. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (1999, February 12). Abstracting the Elements of Art: Exploring the Elements of Art in Abstract Art. Retrieved September 10, 2003 from http://vandyck.anu.edu.au/work/teach/context/www.utah.edu/umfa/hansen.html