plate no. 0748
In the Kitchen
Vladimir Makovsky, 1913
recreation guide
Vladimir Makovsky’s 'In the Kitchen' (1913) is a genre painting that depicts aspects of everyday life, portraying ordinary people engaged in common activities rather than identifiable historical figures or specific portraits (Source 1). As a work of Realism, it likely presents a familiar and frequently sentimental subject matter, which was popular with the middle class during this period (Source 1). The artwork relies on the organization of visual elements—line, shape, color, texture, value, form, and space—to create a cohesive composition that distinguishes the subject from the background (Source 2).
estimated time
40-60 hours over 8-12 sessions
materials
5 items
steps
5 in sequence
materials
| item | purpose | modern equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Oil paints (Ultramarine, Black, White, Red, Yellow earth tones) | Primary pigments for underpainting and glazing | Artist-grade oil paints |
| Linseed oil | Medium to thin paint and adjust drying time | Refined linseed oil |
| Mineral spirits or turpentine | Solvent for thinning initial layers and cleaning brushes | Odorless mineral spirits |
| Canvas or panel | Support surface | Linen canvas primed with gesso |
| Charcoal or thinned paint | Initial sketching of the subject | Vine charcoal or raw umber thinned with solvent |
preparation
surface prep
The surface should be prepared to accept oil paint. While specific priming methods for Makovsky are not detailed in the sources, traditional oil painting techniques often begin with a stable ground. The artist should ensure the surface is ready for the 'fat over lean' rule, where each additional layer contains more oil than the one below to prevent cracking (Source 5).
underdrawing
The artist should sketch the subject onto the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint, as is traditional in oil painting (Source 5). Drawing must be more than accurate; it should present the form of things in a vivid manner, conveying the emotional significance of the scene rather than just scientific accuracy (Source 4). This habit of minute visual expression helps the artist handle subtleties instinctively later in the process (Source 4).
underpainting
A grisaille (monochrome underpainting) is recommended. The artist should mentally extract red and yellow colors, painting the forms in neutral tones (likely using black, ultramarine, and white as noted in Reynolds' method cited in Source 3). This establishes the values and forms before color is introduced. This method was practiced by old masters and helps in managing the complexity of the scene (Source 3).
color palette
Neutral Grays/Blues
Black, Ultramarine, White
Underpainting (grisaille) to establish form and value without color interference
Warm Earth Tones
Red and Yellow ochres/umbers
Glazing and scumbling to introduce local color and warmth, typical of genre scenes depicting domestic interiors
Highlights
White mixed with small amounts of local color
Final touches to emphasize form and light
composition
The composition organizes the visual elements of line, shape, color, texture, value, form, and space to create a unified whole (Source 2). As a genre painting, the figures are likely ordinary people engaged in common activities, without specific individual identities attached to them, distinguishing it from portraiture (Source 1). The arrangement should guide the viewer's eye through the scene, using line and shape to define the kitchen environment and the figures within it.
step by step
underdrawing→underpainting→first pass→refining→finishing
underdrawing
step 01
Sketch the composition on the canvas using charcoal or thinned paint. Focus on the accurate placement of figures and objects, ensuring the drawing conveys the emotional significance of the domestic scene.
Tip — Ensure the drawing is vivid and expressive, not just scientifically accurate, to capture the essence of the genre scene.
Initial Sketch
underpainting
step 02
Create a grisaille underpainting using black, ultramarine, and white. Establish the values and forms of the figures and the kitchen interior. This layer should be dry before proceeding.
Tip — Mentally extract red and yellow colors to focus purely on value and form.
Grisaille
first pass
step 03
Apply glazes of red and yellow tones over the dry grisaille. Use oil as a medium initially. This transparent layer adds color while allowing the underlying values to show through.
Tip — Glazing is a transparent coat of color. Apply it thinly to avoid muddying the underpainting.
Glazing
refining
step 04
Use scumbling (semi-opaque painting) to adjust tones and add texture. This technique allows the underlying painting to make itself felt, creating depth and complexity in the colors.
Tip — Scumbling over a darker ground can create a coldness or grey bloom, which may be useful for shadows or distant areas.
Scumbling
finishing
step 05
Add final details and highlights. Ensure that each additional layer of paint contains more oil than the layer below (fat over lean) to prevent cracking.
Tip — Check for proper drying between layers. Oil paint dries by oxidation, which can take up to two weeks.
Fat over Lean
critical techniques
Glazing and Scumbling
Used to build up color and depth over a monochrome underpainting. Glazing adds transparent color, while scumbling adds semi-opaque texture. This method was common among old masters and helps in achieving realistic effects.
Fat over Lean
A basic rule of oil paint application where each subsequent layer has more oil content than the previous one. This ensures proper drying and prevents the paint from cracking or peeling.
Expressive Drawing
Drawing that goes beyond scientific accuracy to convey the emotional significance of the subject. This is crucial for genre paintings that aim to depict everyday life with sentiment and realism.
common pitfalls
- →Applying layers with less oil than the previous layer, which can lead to cracking and peeling of the paint film (Source 5).
- →Focusing too much on scientific accuracy in the drawing rather than the emotional significance and vivid form of the subjects (Source 4).
- →Neglecting to let the grisaille underpainting dry completely before glazing, which can ruin the transparency and integrity of the layers (Source 3).
- →Over-modeling or being too tied down to the outline, which can make the painting appear stiff and less natural (Source 6).
what the sources don't tell us
Where the corpus is silent, we say so rather than guess. These are the gaps a complete recreation guide would normally cover that our source passages don't.
- ·Specific details of the kitchen interior (objects, layout, lighting) are not described in the sources, so the artist must rely on general genre painting conventions or reference images.
- ·Makovsky's specific palette preferences for this period are not detailed; the guide assumes a traditional old-master approach based on the sources.
- ·The exact facial expressions and gestures of the figures are not specified, requiring the artist to interpret 'ordinary people engaged in common activities' (Source 1).
- ·No information on whether Makovsky used specific varnishes or resins in this work, though traditional methods are suggested.
grounded in
The technical procedure in this guide traces to the following classical art-instruction texts.
The Practice of Oil Painting↗
- COLOURING A MONOCHROME — applied to Underpainting, glazing, and scumbling techniques
- ON COPYING — applied to Common pitfalls regarding over-modeling
The Practice and Science of Drawing↗
- FROM A STUDY BY BOTTICELLI — applied to Underdrawing and expressive accuracy
cross-referenced from
Named facts about this artwork and artist were checked against these reference pages.
Wikipedia: Genre painting↗
- Genre painting — part 1 — applied to Overview and subject matter definition
Wikipedia: Composition (visual arts)↗
- Composition (visual arts) — part 1 — applied to Composition notes and visual elements
Wikipedia: Oil painting↗
- Oil painting — part 2 — applied to Materials, fat over lean rule, and drying times
Read more about the corpus on the sources page and how the guides are built on the methods page.
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