plate no. 6779

Galerie im Café Vaterland am Potsdamer Platz, Berlin

Lesser Ury, 1920

oilImpressionismgenre paintingcafefigureschandeliersinteriortablechair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing light and atmosphere with loose brushstrokes, and in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values. It also encourages exploration of color mixing to achieve subtle variations in light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the composition, focusing on the placement of the figures, table, and chandeliers.
step 02
Establish the background color with a thin wash of blue-green, allowing it to dry slightly.
step 03
Block in the main areas of dark and light, using a limited palette of browns, blacks, and whites.
step 04
Begin building up the forms of the figures and furniture with thicker paint and visible brushstrokes.
step 05
Focus on capturing the light reflecting off the chandeliers, using yellows and whites to create a sense of luminosity.
step 06
Add details to the figures and objects, but avoid overworking them. Keep the brushwork loose and expressive.
step 07
Refine the values and colors, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium yellow

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining black, umber, and white. Use yellow ochre and white to create the warm glow of the chandeliers. Add small amounts of blue to darken shadows.

techniques

·broken color
·impasto
·scumbling
·alla prima
·chiaroscuro

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the brushwork.
→Failing to establish a strong value structure, resulting in a flat and uninteresting painting.
→Using colors that are too saturated, which can detract from the overall mood of the painting.
→Getting bogged down in details of the figures and losing the overall impression of the scene.