plate no. 3144

Dancing Bar in Baden-Baden

Max Beckmann, 1923

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfiguresdancingpartydressescouplescrowd

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified figure drawing, color mixing for skin tones, and creating a sense of depth through overlapping forms and atmospheric perspective. Students will also learn to capture the mood of a scene through color and brushwork.

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 and proportions of the figures.
step 02
Block in the main color areas for the background, figures, and clothing with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the skin tones, using a limited palette and focusing on subtle value changes.
step 04
Develop the details of the clothing, paying attention to the folds and textures.
step 05
Add the darker values to define the forms and create contrast.
step 06
Refine the facial features and add highlights to the eyes and hair.
step 07
Add final details such as jewelry and patterns on the dresses.
step 08
Adjust the overall color balance and value range to achieve the desired mood.

color palette

primary · ivory black · cadmium red · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue

secondary · raw umber · titanium white · cadmium yellow light

Mix skin tones using yellow ochre, cadmium red, and ivory black, adjusting the proportions to achieve different shades. Create the dress colors by mixing ultramarine blue with cadmium red and titanium white.

techniques

·Blocking in
·Dry brushing
·Color mixing
·Simplified figure drawing
·Layering

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details too early in the process.
→Getting bogged down in precise realism instead of capturing the overall mood.
→Not paying attention to the value relationships between the different elements.
→Using too many colors and creating a muddy effect.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·Oil paints (ivory black, cadmium red, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, raw umber, titanium white, cadmium yellow light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Linseed oil
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Palette knife