plate no. 9732

Portrait of Carl Steinbart

Max Slevogt, 1910

oil, canvasImpressionismportraitportraitmanclothingfaceglassesmustache

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, color mixing for skin tones, and creating form with visible brushstrokes. It also provides practice in capturing likeness and expression.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Block in the background with broad strokes of gray and violet.
step 03
Establish the main skin tones using a mix of warm and cool colors.
step 04
Define the light and shadow areas on the face, paying attention to the planes of the face.
step 05
Add details to the eyes, nose, and mouth, capturing the likeness of the subject.
step 06
Paint the clothing, using darker values for the jacket and lighter values for the shirt and vest.
step 07
Refine the brushwork, adding texture and detail to the hair, mustache, and clothing.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of depth.

color palette

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

secondary · ultramarine blue · ivory black · violet

Mix skin tones by combining yellow ochre, cadmium red, and titanium white. Use burnt umber and ultramarine blue for darker values and shadows. Add violet to the background to create depth.

techniques