plate no. 9863

Interior with Young Woman from Behind

Vilhelm Hammershøi, 1904

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfigureinteriorwalltablepaintingvase

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, value control, and creating a sense of atmosphere through soft edges and muted tones. It's also a good study in simplified forms and composition.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a light sketch outlining the main shapes: the figure, the table, the wall, and the picture frame.
step 02
Establish the background color with a mid-tone gray-blue, paying attention to subtle variations.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the figure's dress using a dark mix, preserving soft edges.
step 04
Paint the table with a warm brown, adding subtle highlights and shadows.
step 05
Carefully paint the vase, focusing on the blue and white pattern.
step 06
Add the details of the picture frame and the molding on the wall.
step 07
Refine the values and edges throughout the painting, softening where necessary.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to the figure and the vase.

color palette

primary · ivory black · payne's gray · raw umber

secondary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt sienna

Achieve the muted tones by mixing black, white, and small amounts of blue and brown. Use white to lighten values and blue/brown to adjust the temperature of the grays.

techniques