plate no. 0112

Café on the Corner of the Bridge

Marie Duhem, 1900

oilPost-Impressionismcityscapebuildingwaterbridgeskyfigurescityscape

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in color mixing to achieve muted tones and practice applying visible brushstrokes to create texture and form. Students will also learn to simplify complex architectural details and capture the essence of a cityscape.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings, bridge, and water, focusing on proportions and perspective.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the sky, buildings, and water using thin washes.
step 03
Develop the sky with subtle color variations, blending warm and cool tones.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows, doors, and architectural features, using thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the bridge and its reflection in the water, paying attention to the play of light and shadow.
step 06
Create texture in the water with short, broken brushstrokes, suggesting ripples and reflections.
step 07
Add the figures and any other small details to complete the composition.
step 08
Refine the overall painting, adjusting colors and values as needed to achieve a harmonious effect.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., blue and orange, red and green) with white. Use yellow ochre and burnt umber as base colors and adjust with small amounts of other colors.

techniques