The Judas Kiss 1660

Luca Giordano's "The Judas Kiss" (1660) depicts the moment when Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, betrays him with a kiss. The painting shows Jesus being surrounded by soldiers, with Judas approaching him from the right and kissing him on the cheek. The scene is full of dramatic tension, with the soldiers' weapons and the darkness of the night creating a sense of foreboding. Giordano's use of chiaroscuro, a technique of contrasting light and dark, emphasizes the importance of the moment and the emotions of the figures. This dramatic, emotive artwork is characteristic of the Baroque period, which was influenced by the Counter-Reformation.