In this painting, Narcissus, who is surrounded by a dark and void background is fixated on his own reflection in a pool of water on the ground. Caravaggio’s earlier works almost always used a setting of a neutral and undefined space, as this depicts. Narcissus creates the boundary with his arm placement and appears to be locked in, forming a circle, possibly representing the dark and endless cycle of self-love. Caravaggio’s use of chiaroscuro, or contrasting, creates the illusion of three-dimensional forms. The water looks as if the viewer could fall in, with depth created by the use of shading and contrast. A dark and solemn mood is portrayed, but also an eerie beauty, which is characteristic of Caravaggio’s works.