plate no. 4117

Nollendorfplatz bei Nacht

oilImpressionismcityscapecityscapenightstreetrainbuildingscars

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in capturing atmospheric perspective and rendering light reflections on wet surfaces. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into essential shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the buildings, street, and major elements.
step 02
Establish the dark background with a mix of black, umber, and a touch of blue.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the buildings and street using dark and mid-tone grays.
step 04
Add the highlights and reflections on the wet street with lighter grays and yellows.
step 05
Introduce the warm light sources from the buildings and street lamps.
step 06
Paint the cars and figures with simplified shapes and dark values.
step 07
Refine the details of the buildings and reflections, paying attention to the direction of the brushstrokes.
step 08
Add final touches and highlights to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.

color palette

primary · ivory black · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow · ultramarine blue

Mix various shades of gray by combining black and white, adding small amounts of umber or blue to adjust the temperature. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow to create the warm light sources.

techniques