plate no. 6550

Sitting little girl in a peasant interior

Carl von Bergen, 1904

oil, canvasAcademicismgenre paintingfigurechildinteriorchairtablekitchenware

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in portraiture, particularly capturing likeness and subtle skin tones, as well as rendering realistic textures of clothing and objects.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic shapes and proportions of the figure and objects on the canvas.
step 02
Establish the background color and general lighting.
step 03
Block in the main colors of the figure, focusing on skin tones, hair, and clothing.
step 04
Refine the facial features, paying attention to the eyes, nose, and mouth.
step 05
Add details to the clothing, such as folds and wrinkles.
step 06
Paint the objects in the background, such as the table, pot, and plate.
step 07
Adjust the values and colors to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the realism.

color palette

primary · titanium white · burnt umber · alizarin crimson · yellow ochre

secondary · ultramarine blue · viridian green

Mix skin tones with white, yellow ochre, burnt umber, and a touch of alizarin crimson. Create the dress color by mixing alizarin crimson and burnt umber. Use ultramarine blue and white for the background.

techniques