plate no. 3208

Self-Portrait with Death

Max Pechstein, 1920

oilExpressionismself-portraitself-portraitfigureskeletonwomanexpressionism

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students practice expressive color mixing and bold brushstrokes to convey emotion. It also provides practice in depicting complex figures and anatomical elements in a stylized manner.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and composition, focusing on the placement of the figures and the skeleton.
step 02
Block in the main areas of color using thin washes, establishing the overall value structure.
step 03
Begin building up layers of color, focusing on the red tones of the self-portrait and the green tones of the other figures.
step 04
Develop the details of the faces, paying attention to the expressive features and the use of light and shadow.
step 05
Add the details of the skeleton, using a dry brush technique to create texture and definition.
step 06
Refine the colors and values, adding highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 07
Add final details, such as the cigarette and the ring.
step 08
Review and adjust the painting as needed to achieve the desired effect.

color palette

primary · cadmium red · viridian green · ivory black

secondary · yellow ochre · titanium white

Mix various shades of red by combining cadmium red with ivory black and yellow ochre. Create greens by mixing viridian green with yellow ochre and titanium white. Use white to lighten colors and black to darken them.

techniques