plate no. 4334

Portrait of the publisher Bruno Cassirer

Max Liebermann, 1921

oilImpressionismportraitportraitmanclothingfacehairbackground

some experience helpful

This painting offers a good opportunity to practice portraiture basics, focusing on capturing likeness and creating subtle value shifts in skin tones. Students can also develop skills in rendering clothing folds and textures with loose brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions and pose of the figure on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the overall background color with a thin wash of diluted paint.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the face, hair, and clothing with broad strokes, focusing on value rather than detail.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the subtle shifts in value and color to create form.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, capturing the folds and textures with loose, expressive brushstrokes.
step 06
Adjust the background color as needed to create contrast and depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the form and create a sense of light.
step 08
Review the painting and make any final adjustments to improve the likeness and overall composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · burnt sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black · yellow ochre · cadmium red light

Mix various shades of browns and tans by combining raw umber, burnt sienna, and white. Use small amounts of yellow ochre and cadmium red to warm up the skin tones. Add ivory black to darken the shadows.

techniques

·alla prima
·broken color
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·value studies

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the freshness of the brushstrokes.
→Getting the proportions wrong and distorting the likeness.
→Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
→Ignoring the subtle shifts in value and color and creating a flat, lifeless portrait.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·Stretched canvas (16x20 inches)
·Oil paints (raw umber, burnt sienna, titanium white, ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red light)
·Palette
·Assorted brushes (round and flat)
·Odorless mineral spirits
·Linseed oil
·Palette knife