plate no. 1633

Girls in the garden with glass ball (Elsbeth)

Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1902

oil, canvas, temperaExpressionismgenre paintingfiguregardentreeglass balllandscapechild

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified form representation and expressive brushwork to convey texture and light. It also encourages exploration of color mixing to achieve muted and harmonious tones.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the girl, the glass ball and stand, and the ground.
step 02
Block in the background with dark greens and browns, using loose brushstrokes.
step 03
Paint the girl's dress with a base of light blue, adding darker blues and purples for shadows.
step 04
Create the glass ball with a mix of blues, purples, and whites, reflecting the surrounding landscape.
step 05
Define the girl's face and hair with simple shapes and muted colors.
step 06
Add details to the ground and foliage with varying shades of green and brown.
step 07
Refine the shapes and colors, paying attention to the overall harmony of the painting.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create depth and interest.

color palette

primary · Prussian blue · Burnt umber · Yellow ochre · Titanium white

secondary · Sap green · Alizarin crimson

Mix blues and browns to create the muted greens of the background. Use white to lighten colors and create highlights. Mix small amounts of red into browns and greens to create depth.

techniques