plate no. 3744

Portrait of a young woman. The artist's sister Anna Hammershøi

oilImpressionismportraitportraitfigurewomandressinteriorwall

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in subtle color mixing, value control, and capturing a likeness with soft, diffused light. It also provides practice in rendering fabric and creating a sense of atmosphere.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on proportions and the placement of the figure.
step 02
Establish the background with broad, muted tones, creating a sense of depth.
step 03
Block in the dark areas of the dress, paying attention to the folds and drapery.
step 04
Begin to refine the skin tones, using subtle variations in color and value.
step 05
Add details to the face, focusing on capturing the likeness and expression.
step 06
Refine the details of the dress, adding highlights and shadows to create form.
step 07
Adjust the overall values and colors to create a harmonious composition.
step 08
Add final details and highlights to complete the painting.

color palette

primary · ivory black · titanium white · raw umber

secondary · yellow ochre · burnt sienna

Achieve the subtle grays and browns by mixing black, white, and umber in varying proportions. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and burnt sienna to warm up the skin tones and add depth to the shadows.

techniques