plate no. 6794

Girl at the window

Balthus, 1955

oil, canvasExpressionismgenre paintingfigurewindowtreesbuildingchairinterior

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, color mixing for muted tones, and capturing the mood of a quiet interior scene. It also provides practice in rendering the human figure in a simplified, expressive style.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the window frame, the figure, the chair, and the distant building.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the interior wall, floor, and the exterior landscape.
step 03
Begin layering the colors for the figure, focusing on the subtle shifts in tone and shadow.
step 04
Develop the details of the window frame, paying attention to the texture and light.
step 05
Add depth to the landscape by layering greens, yellows, and browns, creating a sense of distance.
step 06
Refine the details of the chair and the figure's pose.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a cohesive and atmospheric effect.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and texture.

color palette

primary · gray · green · ochre · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow · white · umber

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white or gray to dull the intensity. Use thin washes of color to build up depth and atmosphere.

techniques