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Listen to an Academic Talk Test #004
Listen to an Academic Talk
1. What is the talk mainly about?
A) The life of the artist Caravaggio
B) An artistic technique involving contrast
C) The most popular colors in Baroque art
D) Restoration of 17th-century paintings
2. According to the lecturer, what is one purpose of chiaroscuro?
A) To make a painting appear flatter
B) To create a sense of realism and depth
C) To show as much detail as possible
D) To create a calm and peaceful mood
3. What can be inferred about Caravaggio's paintings?
A) They often have a very dramatic feeling
B) They are difficult to understand
C) They use a wide variety of bright colors
D) They were not popular during his time
4. Why does the lecturer mention storytelling?
A) To explain the origin of the word chiaroscuro
B) To suggest the technique is no longer used
C) To describe a common subject of paintings
D) To highlight an emotional function of the technique
Lecturer: If you look at many paintings from the 17th-century Baroque period, you'll notice a dramatic use of light and shadow. This technique is called chiaroscuro, an Italian term that literally means "light-dark." The artist Caravaggio was a master of this. He would illuminate a subject from a single, often harsh, light source, leaving other areas in deep shadow.
This had a couple of important effects. First, it created a powerful sense of three-dimensionality, making figures look solid and real on a flat canvas. But more importantly, it was used for emotional impact. The stark contrast guides the viewer's eye to the most critical part of the scene and creates a mood of intensity, drama, or mystery.
So, chiaroscuro is not just a technical trick for creating realistic volume; it's a powerful tool for storytelling and conveying emotion in art.
This had a couple of important effects. First, it created a powerful sense of three-dimensionality, making figures look solid and real on a flat canvas. But more importantly, it was used for emotional impact. The stark contrast guides the viewer's eye to the most critical part of the scene and creates a mood of intensity, drama, or mystery.
So, chiaroscuro is not just a technical trick for creating realistic volume; it's a powerful tool for storytelling and conveying emotion in art.
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