plate no. 2321

Street Scene, Tangiers

Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1912

oilImpressionismgenre paintingfiguresarchitectureinteriorlightshadowstreet

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students understand how to capture light and shadow within an interior space and how to simplify figures into basic shapes. It also provides practice in creating atmospheric perspective with color and value.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 10 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the architecture and figures, focusing on proportions and placement.
step 02
Establish the darkest and lightest areas of the painting with thin washes of color.
step 03
Block in the main color areas, using a limited palette of blues, browns, and whites.
step 04
Begin building up layers of paint, focusing on capturing the subtle shifts in color and value.
step 05
Use broken brushstrokes to create texture and visual interest.
step 06
Pay close attention to the edges of shapes, softening them where appropriate to create a sense of atmosphere.
step 07
Refine the details of the figures and architecture, but avoid overworking them.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the sense of depth and light.

color palette

primary · ultramarine blue · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium yellow

Mix blues and browns with white to create the various shades of gray and blue-gray. Use yellow ochre and cadmium yellow sparingly to create the warm highlights.

techniques