plate no. 9919

Last Light in the Village

Marie Duhem, 1904

oilPost-Impressionismgenre paintingbuildingtreesstreetfigurewindowsdoor

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in broken color techniques and capturing the effects of light and shadow in an outdoor scene. It also provides practice in simplifying complex forms and creating a sense of depth through atmospheric perspective.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the main shapes: building, trees, and figure.
step 02
Establish the basic color blocks for the building and street using thin washes.
step 03
Add darker values to define shadows and create depth.
step 04
Begin layering broken color strokes to represent the texture of the street and building.
step 05
Paint the trees, focusing on capturing the light filtering through the leaves.
step 06
Add details to the windows and door, paying attention to their relative values.
step 07
Refine the figure, simplifying the form and focusing on the overall impression.
step 08
Add final highlights and details to enhance the sense of light and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white · Prussian blue

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson · viridian

Mix various shades of brown and gray by combining burnt umber, yellow ochre, and white. Use Prussian blue and yellow ochre to create greens. Add small amounts of alizarin crimson to warm up browns and grays.

techniques