plate no. 9943

Merchant's wife on the balcony

Boris Kustodiev, 1920

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)genre paintingfigurelandscapestill lifearchitecturetextilesdecorative arts

experienced study

Students would develop skills in combining multiple subjects within one composition and working with rich, saturated colors while maintaining harmony across complex scenes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 25 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Begin with a detailed pencil sketch mapping out the figure, table, landscape, and architectural elements
step 02
Block in the major color areas starting with the background landscape using broad washes
step 03
Establish the figure's red dress as the dominant focal point with bold color application
step 04
Paint the white tablecloth and still life objects, paying attention to reflected light
step 05
Add the brass samovar and metallic objects with careful attention to highlights and reflections
step 06
Detail the landscape background with layered greens and varied textures for trees
step 07
Paint the decorative border and architectural details with precise brushwork
step 08
Finish with fine details on the figure's face, hands, and costume elements

color palette

primary · cadmium red · viridian green · titanium white · burnt sienna

secondary · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · raw umber · cadmium yellow

Achieve the rich red dress by layering cadmium red with small amounts of burnt sienna for depth, mix various greens using viridian with yellow ochre and white for the landscape

techniques