plate no. 6957

Rue Moufetard (París)

Arturo Souto, 1945

oil, canvasPost-Impressionismcityscapestreetbuildingsfigurescarriagescityscapesky

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in creating atmospheric perspective and using broken color to suggest detail. It also provides practice in simplifying complex scenes into basic shapes and values.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes of the buildings and street, paying attention to perspective.
step 02
Establish the overall value structure with a thin wash of burnt umber or a similar earth tone.
step 03
Block in the main color areas of the buildings, using a limited palette of warm colors.
step 04
Add details to the buildings, such as windows and architectural features, using small brushstrokes.
step 05
Paint the figures and carriages in the street, simplifying their forms and focusing on their silhouettes.
step 06
Create atmospheric perspective by lightening and desaturating the colors of the buildings in the distance.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the details and adjust the colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.