plate no. 4159

Fragment of a Self-Portrait

Richard Gerstl, 1908

oilExpressionismself-portraitportraitfiguremaleself-portraittorso

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in value studies and expressive brushwork. It's a good exercise in capturing form and emotion using a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the figure and head.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest areas of the painting with thin washes.
step 03
Begin building up the mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face and body.
step 04
Use thicker paint and bolder brushstrokes to define the hair and background.
step 05
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value.
step 06
Add details to the torso and arm, suggesting form with directional brushstrokes.
step 07
Adjust the overall value range to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of volume.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · payne's gray · raw umber

Mix varying proportions of black and white to achieve a full range of grays. Add small amounts of raw umber for warmer tones, and payne's gray for cooler tones.

techniques