plate no. 5640

Citadel of Calvi Corsica

M.C. Escher, 1928

oilSurrealismlandscapecityscapewaterboatsarchitecturetreesfortress

some experience helpful

This painting is great for practicing linework and creating depth through varying line thickness and density. It also helps in understanding how to simplify complex subjects into basic shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Create a light sketch outlining the major shapes: the citadel, the water, the trees, and the boats.
step 02
Begin filling in the darkest areas with solid black, such as the tree branches and shadowed parts of the buildings.
step 03
Use vertical lines of varying thickness to create the effect of rain or atmosphere in the sky.
step 04
Employ hatching and cross-hatching techniques to build up tonal values in the citadel and surrounding landscape.
step 05
Use short, broken lines to represent the texture of the water, varying the density to suggest depth.
step 06
Add details to the boats, using fine lines to define their shapes and reflections.
step 07
Refine the linework throughout the composition, adjusting the thickness and density of lines to enhance the overall contrast and detail.