plate no. 8157

Head of old woman from Antwerp

oil, canvasSymbolismportraitportraitold womanhatlacefigureclothing

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing likeness and rendering realistic skin tones. It also provides practice in depicting textures like lace and fabric.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, focusing on the head and shoulders.
step 02
Establish the background with dark, muted tones, leaving space for the figure.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the face, hat, and clothing, paying attention to the overall value structure.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, adding details and subtle color variations to create a realistic likeness.
step 05
Work on the hat and lace, using small brushstrokes to capture the intricate textures.
step 06
Develop the clothing, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and make any necessary adjustments to the composition.

color palette

primary · ivory black · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · alizarin crimson · cerulean blue · yellow ochre

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, raw sienna, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Darken colors with ivory black and lighten with titanium white. Muted tones are achieved by mixing complementary colors.

techniques