plate no. 9784

Portrait of Theo Neuhuys

Jan Toorop, 1919

oilSymbolismportraitportraitmanfigureclothingfacial hair

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in tonal value control and portrait proportions. It also provides practice in rendering textures like hair and fabric with limited color variation.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic proportions of the head, shoulders, and clothing.
step 02
Establish the main light and shadow areas using a diluted wash of burnt umber or similar monochrome color.
step 03
Gradually build up darker values in the hair, beard, and clothing, paying attention to the direction of light.
step 04
Refine the facial features, focusing on accurate placement and subtle shading to create form.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as the collar, tie, and lapel, using darker values to define their shapes.
step 06
Soften edges and blend tones where necessary to create a smooth transition between light and shadow.
step 07
Add highlights to the hair and face to create a sense of depth and dimension.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the overall composition, ensuring that the values are balanced and the proportions are accurate.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · titanium white

secondary · ivory black

Achieve the various shades by mixing burnt umber with white for lighter tones and adding small amounts of black for deeper shadows. Use raw sienna to slightly warm the midtones.

techniques