Which artist's style is characterized by dramatic use of light and shadow, a technique often imitated by his followers?

The artist characterized by a dramatic use of light and shadow is Caravaggio. His innovative approach to chiaroscuro, the technique that contrasts light and dark, played a fundamental role in his work and became a defining feature of the Baroque style. Caravaggio's technique not only heightened the emotional intensity of his paintings but also created a sense of three-dimensionality that drew viewers into the scene. This dramatic illumination became influential, inspiring many artists who sought to mimic his style, leading to the development of the Caravaggesque movement.

Orazio Gentileschi, while also a significant artist of the period, did not have the same level of impact through his use of light and shadow as Caravaggio. Giorgio Vasari was primarily known as an architect and historian, rather than for his innovative painting techniques, and Michelangelo, though masterful in his use of form and composition, did not focus on chiaroscuro in the same groundbreaking way as Caravaggio. Thus, the association of dramatic light and shadow specifically aligns with Caravaggio's work and his lasting influence on the art world.