plate no. 7981

Portrait of a Young Woman in a Hat (Jadwiga Zak)

Eugeniusz Zak, 1913

oilPost-Impressionismportraitportraitwomanhatfigureclothingface

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly in capturing subtle skin tones and rendering fabric textures. It also provides practice in creating a focal point through careful placement of light and shadow.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the figure, hat, and background.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color: skin, hat, dress, and background.
step 03
Begin layering skin tones, paying attention to the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 04
Define the shadows on the face and neck to create depth.
step 05
Add details to the hat and ribbon, focusing on the folds and textures.
step 06
Refine the background, blending colors to create a soft, atmospheric effect.
step 07
Add final highlights to the face, hat, and dress.
step 08
Review and adjust the overall composition, ensuring a balanced and harmonious result.

color palette

primary · flesh tones (various mixes) · black · gray

secondary · purple · reddish-brown

Achieve skin tones by mixing white, yellow ochre, and a touch of red or burnt sienna. The purple is a muted, desaturated shade, achieved by mixing purple with gray or brown.

techniques

·blending
·layering
·scumbling
·glazing

common pitfalls

→Overworking the skin tones, resulting in a muddy or unnatural appearance.
→Failing to capture the subtle shifts in value, leading to a flat or lifeless portrait.
→Ignoring the importance of the background, which should complement and enhance the figure.
→Not paying attention to the proportions of the face and body.