plate no. 1439

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Eugène Jansson, 1900

oilSymbolismcityscapecityscapestreetnightfiguresskybuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to create depth and atmosphere using color temperature and value, as well as how to suggest details with loose brushwork.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 8 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, including the horizon line, street, and major shapes of the buildings and figures.
step 02
Establish the sky gradient with blended blues, purples, and oranges.
step 03
Block in the dark masses of the buildings and street with dark blues and browns, leaving space for the streetlights.
step 04
Add the line of figures along the water using small strokes of white and light blue.
step 05
Paint the streetlights with bright white and yellow, adding a soft glow around them.
step 06
Refine the details of the buildings and figures, using short, broken brushstrokes to suggest form.
step 07
Add subtle variations in color and value to the street and sky to create depth and atmosphere.
step 08
Add the yellow line on the street.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium yellow · alizarin crimson

Mix various shades of blue by combining ultramarine with white and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the sunset colors by blending crimson, yellow, and white. Darken colors with burnt umber.

techniques

·scumbling
·dry brushing
·color blending
·atmospheric perspective
·broken color

common pitfalls

→Overworking the details and losing the loose, expressive quality of the original.
→Creating too much contrast and flattening the image.
→Not paying attention to the subtle color variations in the sky and street.
→Making the figures too defined and losing their sense of anonymity.