plate no. 1921

Head of Peasant

Kazimir Malevich, 1932

oil, canvasExpressionismportraitportraitfigurelandscapeskycloudsbeard

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice simplified color blocking and expressive brushstrokes to create a stylized portrait. It also offers practice in capturing a likeness with minimal detail.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the head, beard, and background elements (sky, water, land).
step 02
Block in the large areas of color: yellow for the shirt, blue for the sky and water, white for the face.
step 03
Add the darker tones to define the shadows and contours of the face and beard.
step 04
Introduce secondary colors to the landscape and sky, creating horizontal bands of color.
step 05
Add details to the face, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth, using bold brushstrokes.
step 06
Refine the shapes and colors of the beard, using a mix of white, blue, and black.
step 07
Add the small figures in the background and the clouds in the sky.
step 08
Review and adjust the colors and values to match the original painting.

color palette

primary · yellow · blue · white · black

secondary · red · green · pink

Mix blue and white for the sky and beard highlights. Use red and yellow to create the pinkish tones in the foreground. Mix black with other colors to create shadows.

techniques