Low-key is a value term that means darker. This can refer to a portion of the work or the entire work. The opposite of low-key is high-key Here is a sculpture by Auguste Rodin that is low-key. Remember that unless it seems to be part of the actual work the setting is not part of the work’s design. Low-key best correlates to a musical piece in a minor tonality. However, it would be inappropriate to say that a painting is in minor or that music is in low-key. Although it is not the case in the Rodin, if a work features both low-key and high-key values then the work has contrast.