In today’s class, we discussed Italian Baroque art and highlighted the primary artist from this period, Caravaggio. Caravaggio was most famous for his use of tenebrism, which is a technique that contrasts bright lights against a dark background. This effect is meant to create a dramatic light, almost like a spotlight, on important figures in the scene. It is important to look for which figures Caravaggio chooses to place in the light versus in the shadows. Caravaggio’s Calling of Matthew is a prime example of the use of tenebrism to add drama to a scene. The scene occurring in this work shows Jesus coming into a run-down tavern to call upon Matthew, a corrupt and wealthy tax collector, to change his ways and begin following Christ. There is a cellar light above the head of Christ which illuminates Matthew and his companions. The face of Jesus is also illuminated but the rest of his body starts to fade into the shadows. An important feature of the work is Christ’s outstretched hand which mimicks the hand of Adam reaching out to God in the Sistine Chapel. This not only implies Christ as the new Adam, but he is also giving new life to Matthew just as God gave life to Adam. This is a very dramatic and stylized scene, but Caravaggio imbues the work with immense realism. The tavern setting and modern clothes of the figures allow viewers to relate and understand the scene in front of them. Like many artists, Caravaggio aims to place the viewer into the biblical scene.