Magical History Tour: 
High Contrast – Variations on Chiaroscuro in Black-and-White Films (2)

Stark beams of light, long shadows, strong contrasts. The use of dramatic lighting as a cinematic design element has its origins in expressionist film. In art history, this particular visual and lighting aesthetic dates back to the late 16th century under the term chiaroscuro. Both then and now, the objective is to frame the figures in contrast and accentuate what’s happening while at the same time obscuring the source of light. The “famed chiaroscuro of German film” (Lotte Eisner) was not only adopted by film noir as a central stylistic device, but also left its mark throughout film history and into contemporary filmmaking in the form of complex lighting composition. (Milena Gregor)