plate no. 8136

Peasant Girl (after Rembrandt's 'Young Girl Leaning on a Wiindowsill')

oilRomanticismportraitfigureportraitgirlwindowclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering skin tones with subtle color variations. It also provides practice in creating soft, diffused lighting and blending techniques.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure, window, and background.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main areas of color, focusing on the skin tones, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Begin refining the facial features, paying close attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Develop the details of the hair, using small brushstrokes to create texture and volume.
step 06
Refine the clothing and window sill, adding highlights and shadows to create depth.
step 07
Blend the edges of the forms to create a soft, diffused effect.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · titanium white · yellow ochre · burnt umber · cadmium red

secondary · ultramarine blue · raw sienna · ivory black

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red. Use small amounts of blue and umber to create shadows and cool tones. Mix white with a touch of umber and yellow ochre for the clothing.

techniques