plate no. 2117

Table by a window

Jean Metzinger, 1917

oilCubismstill lifestill lifetablewindowflowersnewspaperbuildings

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students understand cubist principles of fragmentation and multiple perspectives. It also provides practice in color mixing to achieve muted tones and creating geometric forms.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 15 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic geometric shapes and composition, focusing on the overlapping planes.
step 02
Establish the darkest values first, using black and dark browns to define the forms.
step 03
Block in the main color areas: red for the vase, yellow for the buildings, and green for the background.
step 04
Mix and apply the various shades of gray and brown to create the fragmented effect.
step 05
Add details like the flowers, newspaper, and playing card, simplifying them into geometric shapes.
step 06
Refine the edges of the shapes, using both hard and soft edges to create depth.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects.
step 08
Review the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments to balance the colors and values.

color palette

primary · red · yellow · black · gray

secondary · green · brown · white

Achieve the muted tones by mixing complementary colors (e.g., red and green) with white or gray. Use black sparingly to avoid overly darkening the colors.

techniques