History Main / Chiaroscuro

* ''Exalted'' has the city of Chiaroscuro, formerly one of the Solar Exalted's temple cities, in the First Age, every single surface was covered in mirrored glass made to provide this effect throughout all of Creation.

* ''TheFountain'' is possibly the most chiaroscuro film ever made, in terms of brute force of imagery. All the swirly gold things and pitch black backgrounds were achieved with microphotography. Even the ''hospital'' is lit this way, with lots of dimly lit Moroccan screens, making it the most {{awesome but impractical}} hospital one is likely to visit. And also [[WhoTurnedOutTheLights very hard to see on DVD]].

Contrast HollywoodDarkness, when even the dark isn't dark. See also MoodLighting. Not to be confused with GrimDark, since this is typically used to highlight the [[AWorldHalfFull bright spots]].

The term comes from Italian, where it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin means]] "light-dark". Not to be confused with the [[IThoughtItMeant ancient desert city of glass]] from the tabletop RPG ''{{Exalted}}''. Or that rat from ''TheTaleOfDespereaux''. Contrast HollywoodDarkness, when even the dark isn't dark.

See also MoodLighting. Not to be confused with GrimDark, since this is typically used to highlight the [[AWorldHalfFull bright spots]].

See also MoodLighting. Not to be confused with GrimDark, since this trope is typically used to highlight the [[AWorldHalfFull bright spots]].

The term comes from Italian, where it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin means]] "light-dark". Not to be confused with the [[IThoughtItMeant ancient desert city of glass]] from the tabletop RPG ''{{Exalted}}''. Or that rat from ''TheTaleOfDespereaux''. Contrast HollywoodDarkness, when even the dark isn't dark.

* ''TheFountain'' is possibly the most chiaroscuro film ever made, in terms of brute force of imagery. All the swirly gold things and pitch black backgrounds were achieved with microphotography. Even the ''hospital'' is lit this way, with lots of dimly lit Moroccan screens, making it the most {{awesome but impractical}} hospital one is likely to visit. And also [[HollywoodDarkness very hard to see]].

Generally speaking, a work that combines dark [[RealIsBrown brown]] or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold (or [[MoodLighting flesh-tone]]) highlights is usually described as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

The term comes from Italian, where it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin means]] "light-dark". Not to be confused with the [[IThoughtItMeant ancient desert city of glass]] from the tabletop RPG ''{{Exalted}}''. Or that rat from ''TheTaleOfDespereaux''. Contrast HollywoodDarkness, when even the dark isn't dark. The complete inverse of NuclearCandle.

Generally speaking, a work that combines dark [[RealIsBrown brown]] or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold (or flesh-tone) highlights is usually described as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

The term comes from Italian, where it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin means]] "light-dark". Not to be confused with the [[IThoughtItMeant ancient desert city of glass]] from the tabletop RPG ''{{Exalted}}''. Or that rat from ''TheTaleOfDespereaux''. Contrast HollywoodDarkness, when even the dark isn't dark.

For the complete opposite, see NuclearCandle.

Generally speaking, a work that combines dark [[RealIsBrown brown]] or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold or flesh-tone highlights is often described as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

* TheDreamlandChronicles: [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-05/page-275/ in the prison]]

* ''TheFountain'' is possibly the most chiaroscuro film ever made, in terms of brute force of imagery. All the swirly gold things and pitch black backgrounds were achieved with microphotography. Even the ''hospital'' is lit this way, with lots of dimly lit Moroccan screens, making it the most {{awesome but impractical}} hospital one is likely to visit. It also makes the [=DVD=] [[HollywoodDarkness very hard to see]].

* ''TheFountain'' is possibly the most chiaroscuro film ever made, in terms of brute force of imagery. All the swirly gold things and pitch black backgrounds were achieved with microphotography. Even the ''hospital'' is lit this way, with lots of dimly lit Moroccan screens, making it the most {{awesome but impractical}} hospital one is likely to visit.

Generally speaking, a work that combines dark [[RealIsBrown brown]] or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold highlights is often described as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

Generally speaking, a work that combines dark brown or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold highlights is often described as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

* ''DarkCity'' uses chiaroscuro lighting in spots to achieve a DieselPunk / FilmNoir effect.

* ''BladeRunner'', which helped to pave the way for many of the more GrimDark sci-fi films that followed it.

Generally speaking, any work that combines dark brown or black shadows over much of the image with bright silver and gold highlights may be described with more or less accuracy as chiaroscuro. The origin of this is, of course, the color of the typical light-source in the Renaissance: Many paintings are seemingly lit by a candle, or off-screen by a whole bunch of candles, although narrow beams of sunlight in a dark space and lots of dust also may achieve a beautiful chiaroscuro effect.

[[AC:VideoGames]]
* ''Left4Dead'' uses this to provide atmosphere, light, and to tell players to go. People tend to go towards the light because they can actually see what's there.
** According to the developer blog and commentaries, the maps in L4D were changed to promote, rather than fight against, this natural human inclination. For example, one of the maps that takes place in a city was originally designed to have most of the windows in buildings lit and bright, giving the impression that TheVirus wiped everything out quickly. Changing the buildings to be without power made people move faster and more efficiently to the goal, which remained well-lit.
* In ''NoMoreHeroes'' shadows are ''pitch black,'' even in the light of day.
* HotelDuskRoom215
* Any sequence in an FPS where they make you use a flashlight.
** Also ''{{Doom}} 3''. You use a light, but not along with the gun (FanNickname: "No duct tape on Mars").
* Taken to the extreme in ''MadWorld'' for the Wii, where everything is black and white (and red).
* The Big Reveal in Bioshock does this.
* ''{{Okami}}'' and its sequel ''{{Okamiden}}'' make use of this, which is natural considering the art style is based on Japanese ink paintings. Shadows are pitch black, completely opaque, and flow like ink.
* ''MassEffect 2'' is considerably DarkerAndEdgier than its predecessor, and tends to cover [[FaceFramedInShadow character's faces]] and environments in darker shadows.

* The cellar scene from ''{{Signs}}''. The lightbulb gets broken, so there's several tense seconds of pitch blackness, then they turn on two flashlights, which provide the only light for the remainder of the scene.
* One old version of this was from near the end of ''ApocalypseNow'', when a swinging lightbulb throws the main antagonist's face into (changing) light and shadow.

[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* {{CSI}} and its spinoffs use this in many scenes, usually accentuated by a strongly colored light.
* ''{{Firefly}}'' made use of this during the scenes where the crew were eating dinner in the ship's dining room.
* Whenever something appropriately dramatic happened in StarTrek (Original Flavor), they framed Kirk's eyes with a band of light, the rest of his face in shadow. It was strange.
* BuffyTheVampireSlayer and {{Angel}} loved this. Is it meant to be scary? Then you can't see a dang thing.
* {{Supernatural}}, especially in the first two seasons, often had [[FaceFramedInShadow faces framed in shadow]]... even outside in the middle of the day.

A visual trope, using a stark contrast between dark and light in an image, usually for dramatic effect. Generally uses directional lighting and sharp shadows. Developed in the Renaissance for painting and became very popular among Baroque painters (all the way to the school known as "tenebrism"). And never quite vanished since.

* The classic [[http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2586n_madonna-vogue_music music video]] for Madonna's "Vogue."
* The front cover for The Scissor Sisters' album "Ta-Dah".

* All of Mignola's work is drawn in this style.

* DoctorHorriblesSingALongBlog has this during the song, On The Rise. While watching from the street, Doctor Horrible sings about how soon "only darkness will remain." While he's doing this, a street light casts light on one side of his face, while the other is completely shadowed. When he mentions that "darkness is on the rise" he steps back, and out of the light, so that the only light striking him is a few feeble glimmers from a hobo fire.