Dark Art History: Caravaggio's Path

All art presupposes the existence of light. However, it was darkness that brought about innovation. The emergence of Caravaggio, the "genius painter of light and darkness," in 17th-century Italy brought a shocking sense of realism and drama to paintings. A leading Caravaggio scholar unravels the history of the conflict between light and darkness in Western art from ancient to modern times, as well as in Japanese art. Drama cannot be born without the presence of darkness. [4 color pages]