plate no. 1247

Portrait of Waclaw Karczewski

Jacek Malczewski, 1906

oilArt Nouveau (Modern)portraitportraitfigurelandscapefieldknighthorse

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, including capturing likeness and rendering clothing folds, as well as landscape painting with a focus on creating depth through color and value variations.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the figure and the landscape elements.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color, starting with the background field and sky.
step 03
Establish the basic values and forms of the portrait, paying attention to the light and shadow on the face and clothing.
step 04
Develop the details of the landscape, including the plants and the distant figures.
step 05
Refine the portrait, adding details to the face, hair, and clothing.
step 06
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Glaze thin layers of color to unify the painting and create subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.

color palette

primary · ivory black · yellow ochre · raw umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · burnt sienna · ultramarine blue

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors and adding white. Use yellow ochre and white for the field, and ivory black mixed with raw umber for the dark clothing.

techniques