Merrifield's plate of spheres and egg shapes against light and dark backgrounds; on those lit from the side, the shadow side lightens slightly near its outer edge.

Concept · Seeing Light

Reflected Light

Reflected light is light bounced back into a shadow from nearby surfaces.

It lightens the shadow near the edge and helps the form turn. Cross reminded students that, seen as part of the whole picture, reflected lights "are not lights but darks".

  • Merrifield found it often "warmer in colour" than the rest of the object.
  • Cross warned that students tend to exaggerate it.

Image: Internet Archive · Public domain (published before 1931)

20 / 51