plate no. 3621

Booksellers of Notre-Dame

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapecityscapebuildingsfiguresbooksellerstreeswater

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, rendering reflections, and capturing the impression of a busy street scene with loose brushwork. It also provides practice in depicting figures in motion and creating a sense of depth through color and value changes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of Notre-Dame, the booksellers, and the figures.
step 02
Establish the sky and water with broad washes of color, paying attention to the atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of Notre-Dame and the booksellers' stalls, using simplified forms and colors.
step 04
Add the figures, focusing on their gestures and proportions, and suggest movement with loose brushstrokes.
step 05
Develop the details of the booksellers' stalls, including the books and other items on display.
step 06
Refine the reflections in the wet pavement, capturing the colors and shapes of the surrounding objects.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the colors, values, and details to achieve a cohesive and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red light · viridian

Mix various grays and browns by combining the primary colors. Use white to lighten values and create atmospheric effects. Add small amounts of red and yellow to warm up the grays, and blue to cool them down.

techniques