plate no. 6592

Aristide Maillol

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitfiguremanhatbuildingsbeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice portraiture, color mixing to achieve muted tones, and creating texture through visible brushstrokes. It's also a good exercise in capturing a likeness with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and background.
step 02
Establish the main areas of color with thin washes.
step 03
Build up the darker values in the figure's clothing and beard.
step 04
Add highlights to the face, hat, and bow tie.
step 05
Develop the background buildings and sky with loose brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the details of the face and hat, paying attention to the light and shadow.
step 07
Add texture to the beard and clothing with dry brush techniques.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors and values to achieve a cohesive look.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red light

Mix burnt umber and raw sienna for the warm tones of the buildings and skin. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky and bow tie. Add small amounts of red to warm up the browns.

techniques