CANVASES, CARATS AND CURIOSITIES

“We forget just how painfully dim the world was before electricity. A candle—a good candle—provides barely a hundredth of the illumination of a single 100-watt lightbulb. Open your refrigerator door and you summon forth more light than the total amount enjoyed by most households in the eighteenth century.”
― Bill Bryson, At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Illuminating the Past: Art History Before Electric Light

For millennia, the night world was illuminated only by fire—a flickering, often unreliable source of light. In the prehistoric caves of Europe, early humans painted animals on uneven rock surfaces.

These works, dating back tens of thousands of years, were created deep in the caves and visible only by firelight. As viewers held torches aloft, the shifting light would have animated the beasts depicted on the uneven walls, causing these static paintings to seem to come alive—an early example of how artists have harnessed light to transform images into dynamic experiences.

Light has always been fundamental to visual art, shaping how the viewer perceives depth, emotion and meaning. In medieval Christian iconography, gold leaf halos shimmered with divine radiance in cathedrals lit by warm candlelight, emphasizing the sacred.

During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci was among the first to study the optical properties of light, bridging the gap between art and science to better understand how light sources interact with objects and influence perception. Baroque masters used dramatic chiaroscuro to heighten tension and realism, manipulating light and shadow to create striking contrasts.

Before the Bulb: How Did Artists Work in the Glow of Candlelight?

For artists, writers and those who worked late into the night, creating in the dark required patience, innovation and caution. A single flame could mean the difference between completing a masterpiece, abandoning a canvas or, in the very worst cases, burning down the house.

Before the 19th century, European candles were typically made from animal fat, producing smoky, uneven flames and a foul odor. Wicks, crafted from loosely wrapped natural fibers, did not burn away completely but curled back into the wax and extinguished themselves. Candle scissors became essential, allowing users to clip excess wick and maintain a steady glow. Still, the inconsistent light cast unpredictable shadows, making precise artistic work difficult. This ever-changing natural light may have contributed to the dramatic chiaroscuro lighting reflected in the works of painters like Rembrandt and Caravaggio.

In wealthy households, sterling silver candlesticks not only served as elegant decor but served as a lighting solution, amplifying illumination within interiors. Elaborate chandeliers became striking focal points in homes and palaces, holding multiple candles for a grander, more luminous effect.

A movement toward widespread illumination began under Louis XIV, the Sun King, who sought to brighten Paris in the mid-17th century. By installing lanterns along major streets and requiring citizens to place candles in their windows, he aimed to deter crime and make nighttime safer. This effort helped shape Paris’s enduring reputation as the City of Light. Yet even with these advancements, lighting remained limited.

One of the most unusual techniques an artist used to overcome this obstacle was employed by Francisco Goya, who wore a hat topped with candles. Both his son, Javier, and biographer Laurent Matheron noted that Goya often attached small candles to his hat, using the light to illuminate his canvas. This innovative method, showcased below in his self-portrait, allowed him to work long into the night and enabled him to achieve the dramatic lighting effects that became a hallmark of his works.

Every aspect of artists' daily living adapted to the darkness. Yet, as the modern age progressed, it became ever more important for citizens to create tools that helped them remain productive, even during nightfall. Innovations in timekeeping played a crucial role in nighttime tasks. One of the most remarkable inventions was the minute repeater clock.

With the press of a push-repeat button, this clock would chime the exact time down to the minute—a feature invaluable to those who awoke in the middle of the night. Before this, checking the time required lighting a candle, a task that ranged from tedious to hazardous.

Another horological advancement was the moon phase complication, which helped travelers determine the best time of the month for nighttime journeys when a full moon would provide much-needed light. Before widespread street or boat lighting, this knowledge was vital for safe passage.

These innovations enabled a new way of navigating the night for everyone from artists, aristocracy and workers. These advancements provided practical solutions to the challenges of darkness as well as a sense of control, shaping the rhythms of daily life in an era before the advent of electric light.

A New Light: How Did the Light Bulb Changed the World of Art?

It is no understatement to say that artificial light changed almost everything about the way society and the economy operated. Thanks to Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking invention of the lightbulb, artists were no longer bound by the unreliable flicker of candle flames or the sooty glow of gas lamps. The productive hours of the day expanded, allowing for extended working sessions and new ways to study light and form.

Beyond practicality, the introduction of electric lighting also revolutionized the way artists viewed and depicted the world around them. Winslow Homer’s The Fountains at Night, World’s Columbian Exposition was, according to his mother (who is, perhaps, not an unbiased source), “the first picture ever painted by electric light.” While this claim may be up for debate, it highlights the profound impact artificial illumination had on artistic practice.

Suddenly, nighttime became an active part of daily life, inspiring artists to capture the vibrancy of illuminated streetscapes, bustling nightlife and dazzling entertainment venues. The transition from gas to electric lighting, particularly in cities like Paris, brought both excitement and unease—reflected in avant-garde artworks that celebrated modernity while grappling with its stark contrasts.

As electricity spread throughout Paris in the late 19th century, it dramatically altered both the cityscape and artistic interpretations of urban life. The bright, harsh quality of electric lights was a striking departure from the warm, ambient glow of gas lamps. A Chicago journalist visiting Paris in 1878 remarked, “The electric light is as cruel as the sun,” a sentiment that resonated with artists adjusting to this new visual reality.

During the Industrial Revolution, decorative arts also experienced significant growth, with artisans like Tiffany and Loetz producing exquisite glass lamps. The transition from gas and oil to electric lighting revolutionized these designs, offering artists newfound freedom. With the removal of the constraints of open flames, they were able to focus on crafting functional yet breathtaking works of art, blending beauty and utility in innovative ways.

By 1881, Paris had briefly earned the title of the “Electric Capital of the World” during the Exposition Internationale de l’Électricité, a grand showcase of technological progress. While the city’s slow transition away from gas lamps prevented the name from sticking—some gas lamps remained in use until 1962—the exhibition highlighted the growing excitement around electricity’s potential. This era also ushered in what historian Craig Koslofsky terms “nocturnalization,” the expansion of social and economic life into the night, fueled by artificial illumination.

As the proliferation of electric lighting gave rise to a dazzling nightlife, cabarets like the Moulin Rouge and Folies Bergère became cultural landmarks. Artists such as Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Pablo Picasso found endless inspiration in the electric glow of these vibrant venues, capturing the energy, glamour and mystery of modern nightlife.

The Glow of Innovation: How Electric Light Continues to Shape the Art World

Electric light has been used in art since the mid-20th century and is now a major art form. Today, light art is widely featured in galleries, public spaces and architectural design.

Of course, light is an aspect of all visual art, it is reflected in every brushstroke within a painting. However, technological advancements allow light itself to shine as the star of the work. In modern photography and cinema, lighting techniques continue to shape visual storytelling. Filmmakers employ strategic lighting to evoke mood, guide the viewer’s eye and define character arcs—echoing the painterly traditions of Caravaggio and Rembrandt.

Pioneering artists of the Constructivist and Bauhaus movements, such as Naum Gabo and László Moholy-Nagy, were among the first to explore light as a sculptural element. Gabo’s Linear Construction No. 1 (1943) demonstrated how light could be refracted and manipulated through transparent materials, while Moholy-Nagy’s Light-Space Modulator (1922–1930) remains a landmark in kinetic light sculpture. El Lissitzky’s Prounenraum (1923) further integrated architectural lighting as a core artistic component, laying the groundwork for modern light installations.

By the 1960s, artists increasingly embraced neon and other electric light sources, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. American minimalist Dan Flavin was among the pioneers, exploring light as a medium while working as a museum guard at the American Museum of Natural History in 1961. His early sketches incorporating electric lights soon evolved into his signature fluorescent tube installations, transforming spaces with their luminous, geometric compositions.

Around the same time, James Turrell began his own groundbreaking experiments with light. A former fighter pilot with a degree in perceptual psychology, Turrell was deeply influenced by the Light and Space movement, which focused on the sensory and immersive qualities of light. His work challenged traditional notions of form and perception, turning light itself into an experience.

Today, light art continues to evolve, captivating audiences with immersive experiences. Projection mapping, laser displays and LED light installations redefine how people engage with art. Here in New Orleans, the Super Bowl LIX celebrations in February 2025 featured a spectacular light show on the historic St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo and the Presbytère in Jackson Square. The event showcased projection art, displaying vibrant works by local artists such as Becky Fos, James Michalopoulos, Terrance Osborne, George Rodrigue and Hunt Slonem. Similarly, the city’s annual LUNA Fête brings together art, technology and light, transforming urban landscapes into luminous masterpieces.

Internationally, renowned museums frequently exhibit light art, recognizing its significance in contemporary practice. Institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York have hosted major light installations, while the Centre for International Light Art in Unna, Germany, remains the only museum exclusively dedicated to this genre.

As technology advances, so too does the potential of light as an artistic medium. From large-scale public projections to intimate gallery installations, electric light continues to shape the art world, proving that innovation and creativity shine brightest in the glow of possibility.

To further explore the role of light in exceptional art forms from lamps and candlesticks to paintings and photographs, visit the exceptional collections of M.S. Rau in person or online!