plate no. 5542

La pétrification de la papesse

Victor Brauner, 1945

oilSurrealismsymbolic paintingfigureportraitabstractsurrealgeometrictexture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in layering paint to create texture and using contrasting colors to define shapes. Students will also practice simplifying complex forms into basic geometric shapes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the figure and background, focusing on proportions.
step 02
Apply a base layer of color to the background, using a mix of blue and gray for the top and brown for the bottom.
step 03
Add texture to the background by dabbing and stippling paint with a brush or sponge.
step 04
Paint the figure's head and body with white, adding subtle variations in tone with gray and brown.
step 05
Create the eye and other facial features using black and brown paint, paying attention to the details of the lines and shapes.
step 06
Paint the geometric shapes of the clothing with brown and white, adding black lines to define the edges.
step 07
Add final details and highlights to the painting, using a fine brush to create texture and depth.
step 08
Allow the painting to dry completely.

color palette

primary · titanium white · ultramarine blue · burnt umber

secondary · ivory black · raw sienna

Mix white with small amounts of black and brown to create subtle variations in tone for the figure. Use a combination of blue and white for the background, adding small amounts of black to create depth. Mix burnt umber with white to create the lighter shades of brown for the clothing.

techniques