What unique painting technique is associated with Caravaggio?

The choice regarding painting in oil directly on the canvas without preliminary drawings accurately reflects Caravaggio's distinctive technique known as "alla prima." This method allows the artist to create rich, dynamic works by applying oil paint directly to the canvas in a single layer, enabling immediate expression and a sense of spontaneity. Caravaggio's approach eliminated the extensive preparatory work typical of other artists of his time, allowing for more direct engagement with his subject matter.

His expressive use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, combined with this technique, created dramatic effects and heightened emotional impact in his paintings. This approach is a hallmark of Caravaggio's style and significantly influenced the Baroque art movement that followed.