plate no. 7515

Harmony

Paul Delvaux, 1927

oil, canvasExpressionismcityscapebuildingtreesfigurescityscapestreetsky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective, creating depth through value and color, and simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes. It also offers practice in rendering figures in a stylized manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the building, trees, and figures, focusing on composition.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the building and sky, focusing on the warm, muted tones.
step 04
Add the darker values of the trees, using a dry brush technique to create texture.
step 05
Begin refining the figures, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Develop the details of the building, such as windows and architectural elements, using a small brush.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension throughout the painting.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and add any final details.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · yellow ochre · raw sienna

secondary · ivory black · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Achieve the warm, muted tones by mixing earth tones with small amounts of cadmium yellow and alizarin crimson. Use ivory black sparingly to darken values.

techniques