February 02, 2004
Chiaroscuro - revealed : : hidden
Chiaroscuro is the variation of light to dark across the surface of anything. Here are two definitions of the word:
1 - "In conventional artwriting, chiaroscuro means merely modelling a form, as in a shaded drawing, in terms of light (clear=chiaro) and dark (obscure=scuro). As such, chiaroscuro is a generic term and does not describe a particular manner of modelling." Words of Art
2 - "In order to understand thoroughly the meaning of this word, we must know that claro implies not only any thing exposed to a direct light, but also all such colours as are luminous in their natures; and obscura all the colours which are naturally brown ... deep velvets, brown stuffs a black horse, polished armor, and the like, which preserve their natural or apparent obscurity in any light whatever." Oxford Companion to Art
The second definition reveals the heart of chiaroscuro. It is the movement from clarity into obscurity. Things are revealed and then hidden. Vermeer has created a world where everyday life is revealed and then hidden. Georges de la Tour's The Repentant Magdalene embodies this revealing and falling away, as does the LaTour to the left.
In fiber, we tend to create more graphical worlds where objects are very flat, abstract and two dimensional. Faith Ringgold brings the two worlds together by painting on her fabric before she quilts it, but it's not a world where objects are hidden and revealed. Are there quilters who fully utilize the drama of chiaroscuro?
Posted by sfenton at February 2, 2004 05:07 PMThanks for bringing such interesting topics and sites to my mailbox. Z
Posted by: Zoe at February 2, 2004 10:06 PMOK, Serena, can you think of a textile artist who is doing chiraoscuro? Should we be trying it?
Posted by: june at February 3, 2004 11:26 PMHi June-
Nope, this is a sincere inquiry. One application of chiaroscuro, in theory, is the marching of light-shadow down a typical Renaissance church. So, if fiber, we do have the sometimes see that light-dark march. But what I am pondering is that movement from deep velvety shadow to brilliant light and back again - with the simultaneous movement from concealment to revelation and back again.
I have spent a while pondering this in the art quilt world and found zip - am I missing something? What about in contemporary embroidery? Who knows the answer?
Posted by: Serena Fenton at February 4, 2004 01:10 PMWhy not ask Ragged Cloth folks - and plug your blog too, if you wish. I'll get to read the results at the end of the month.
Posted by: june at February 5, 2004 12:35 AMWhile working on my fiber Artist Trading cards i tried to work on this concept. If the link works, take a look at the first card in the second row (possibly the only one that was moderately successful chirascuro). I'm still working on the smooth progression, but I think it will be easier when I'm working a little bigger than 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches. Just encountered this lovely blog, so I'll also apologize for the untimeliness of my post.
Posted by: Maria at February 25, 2004 07:56 PM