plate no. 8920

Men in the city

Fernand Leger, 1919

oilCubismportraitfigurescityabstractgeometric shapesportraitarchitecture

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand abstract composition, color blocking, and the use of geometric forms to represent figures and urban environments. It also provides practice in mixing and applying flat colors with minimal blending.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 7 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and composition of the painting onto the canvas, focusing on the placement of the major geometric forms.
step 02
Block in the large areas of color using flat, opaque layers of paint. Start with the background colors and then move to the foreground elements.
step 03
Mix the specific colors needed for each shape, paying attention to the subtle variations in tone and hue.
step 04
Define the edges of the shapes with clean, crisp lines. Use a smaller brush for detail work.
step 05
Add any smaller details or patterns, such as the checkered pattern or the architectural elements.
step 06
Review the painting and make any necessary adjustments to the colors, shapes, or lines.
step 07
Allow the painting to dry completely.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · cadmium red · yellow ochre · titanium white

secondary · black · sap green · grey

Mix various shades of grey by combining black and white. Achieve the orange hues by mixing red and yellow. Use white to lighten the blues and yellows for highlights.

techniques