Wine Bottle, Light, Shadows…

Did You Know?

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When looking at this painting, you may be thinking…How can the wine bottle be dark on the left side if the light is coming from the left and the bottle casts a shadow on the wall? And why is the bottle's #2 arrow the lighter part there?

In this image, a couple of lighting and reflective properties are happening that might seem contradictory at first glance. Let's break it down:

1. Left Side of the Bottle (Arrow 1 – Darker Area):

   Since the bottle is amber glass, the darkness on the left side could be primarily due to the bottle’s natural color. Amber glass is naturally darker, so even though light hits the bottle from the left side, that part of the bottle remains darker because the amber glass absorbs and reflects less light than a lighter or clearer material would.

The highlight on the left side is a reflection of the light source, but it’s subtle because amber glass does not reflect as much light as clear or light-colored glass. It adds a slight glint, showing that the light is hitting that area, but it doesn't overpower the natural darkness of the glass.

2. Right Side of the Bottle (Arrow 2 – Lighter Area):

This lighter section on the right side can be explained by a combination of reflections and light passing through the glass, even if it reflects off the liquid or glass itself. When light hits the bottle, some will pass through the glass and reflect off the liquid inside (likely wine). Since wine is darker, it reflects and refracts light in complex ways. The lighter spot could be where the glass is catching direct light and bouncing it back, or it could be caused by internal refraction, where light travels through the bottle and comes out in a brighter spot on the right. Even though the light source is coming from the left, how the glass curves and interacts with the light can cause this brighter spot. Glass tends to reflect and scatter light, especially curved surfaces like a wine bottle, creating highlights in unexpected areas.

3. Shadow Cast on the Wall Behind the Bottle:

The light is coming from the left side, which is why we see the shadow of the bottle cast on the wall behind it. The shadow appears to the right of the bottle because it’s following the direction of the light source from the left. This part of the painting is consistent with natural light behavior, where an object blocks the light and casts a shadow in the opposite direction.

4. Shadows and Reflections on the Surface:

The grapes and the surface the bottle rests on also receive light from the left. The brighter areas on the grapes and surface show where the light is strongest, while shadows are cast to the right of these objects. The table surface also reflects the light, but less intensely since it's more diffuse.

Summary of the Lighting:

• The primary light source comes from the left and directly hits the bottle, grapes, and wall.
• The amber glass of the bottle naturally appears darker on the left side but reflects a bit of light (the highlight).
• The right side of the bottle shows internal reflections and refractions, which cause a brighter patch despite the light being on the opposite side.
• The shadow on the wall is cast to the right, which aligns with the direction of the light source.

This combination of the bottle’s material, light reflections, and refractions within the glass explains the lighting and shadows we observe in the painting.