Pennies from Heaven! Yes, you are right. Chiaroscuro , clair-obscure : Caravaggio, de Ribera. Rembrand and George de la Tour.
It started with Caravaggio.
I'm a painter (somewhere between a cartoonist and Michelangelo.)
(thanks, Etaoin). More on this side of the middle.
And an educator still, but retired from the large groups to small private studio groups.