plate no. 7909

Jeune fille à la cage aux oiseaux

Tsuguharu Foujita, 1956

oilMagic Realismportraitfigurebirdsbirdcageheadscarfportraitwindow

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing subtle skin tones and rendering delicate details like the birds' feathers. It also offers practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and suggesting texture through layering.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: the figure, birdcage, and birds, paying attention to proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the background with a thin wash of diluted color, focusing on the sky and the wall.
step 03
Begin layering the skin tones on the figure, starting with a light base and gradually building up shadows and highlights.
step 04
Paint the headscarf, using a mix of colors to create depth and folds.
step 05
Block in the basic colors of the dress and sash, then add shadows and highlights to define the form.
step 06
Carefully paint the birds, paying attention to their anatomy and feather details.
step 07
Render the birdcage, using fine lines to suggest the wire structure.
step 08
Add final details and refine the edges to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · cerulean blue · cadmium red light

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or burnt sienna. Use diluted washes of raw umber and yellow ochre for the background and birdcage. Mix cerulean blue with white for the scarf highlights.

techniques