plate no. 5467

Burial in the Carpathian Mountains

Laszlo Mednyanszky, 1917

oilExpressionismlandscapeskymountainsfiguresgraveyardlandscapeclouds

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and expressive brushwork to convey mood and texture. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of the mountain range and figures.
step 02
Block in the sky with broad strokes of blue and white, creating a sense of depth and cloud formation.
step 03
Establish the mountain range with a base layer of brown and add highlights with white and subtle blues.
step 04
Define the background trees and foliage with dark browns and reds, using broken brushstrokes to suggest texture.
step 05
Paint the figures in the foreground with dark, muted colors, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Add the graveyard details, such as crosses and mounds of earth, using a variety of browns and greens.
step 07
Develop the foreground grass with loose, expressive strokes of green and yellow, adding highlights and shadows.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the values to create a cohesive and atmospheric painting.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · titanium white · burnt umber

secondary · yellow ochre · raw sienna · cadmium red

Mix muted greens by combining yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Achieve atmospheric perspective by adding white to colors as they recede into the distance. Use burnt umber to create dark, earthy tones.

techniques