Low key

For other uses, see Low key (disambiguation).

Low key as a term used in describing paintings or photographs is related to but not the same as low-key lighting in cinema or photography.^[1] A photographic image, painting or movie can be defined as "low-keyly" if its dominant values are black, dark brown or dark blue.^[2][3]

Low key oil painting

Some authors describe the term "low key" as the so-called Rembrandian light^[4] while others describe how to obtain such photographs or paintings.^[5]

See also

• High key
• Tenebrism