I know I know, naughty me for taking his picture while he has a "no photographs" symbol above his easel. I suspect it has more to do with flashes on tourist point-n-shoots popping off and distracting him.
It was a scene that required dark tones - it's as much about the art as it is the artist, so rendering him very low key helps reinforce that. I composed it to purposely highlight the intersecting planes and geometry of the painting on the easel in contrast to the paintings on the wall.
Yes, and you also have the rectangles of the 'no camera ' sign, and the small table on the bottom left of the picture, as well as the shapes made by the floor tiles.