Glossary
Low Key Style
The term describes a kind of low key lighting, in which the scene is generally illuminated by only one main source of light. This light source creates deep shadows and illuminates the whole picture only partially. A low-key setting is a dark, often perceived as dusky and contrasting. Characteristic of this type of composition is extensive shadowing and few bright surfaces also marked by transitions from light to dark - the shadows dominate the picture. In painting, examples of the low-key style are the paintings of Caravaggio and Rembrandt.