Leonardo da Vinci is supposed to have developed chiaroscuro after learning that he could depict depth through subtle gradations of light and shadow. He experimented with different methods until he found one that seemed adequate, and then he never looked back. Chiaroscuro means "clearly seen" or "completely darkened", and it is a method of painting in which the values of white, grey, and black are used to create an image with strong contrast between light and dark areas. It was first used by Italian painters in the early Renaissance era, especially Leonardo da Vinci, but it was also popular among other great artists such as Titian, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Using this technique allows the artist to create depth perception within the image, which was unusual for its time. The viewer's eye is naturally drawn into the picture because of this visual illusion. Furthermore, chiaroscuro drawings or paintings contain many details that would not be apparent without careful examination. This adds to their aesthetic appeal and makes them interesting subjects for study.